KUALA LUMPUR, 7 June 2009: Supporters of Datuk M Kayveas were on cloud nine when their man was acknowledged as the legitimate People’s Progressive Party (PPP) president by none other than the prime minister.
The acknowledgement came when Datuk Seri Najib Razak officiated the party’s 56th general assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre in his capacity as Barisan Nasional (BN) chairperson.
PPP is a component member of BN.
Kayveas (File pic)When Najib said, “Yang Berbahagia Datuk M Kayveas, presiden PPP”, the hall with more than 4,000 delegates and 2,600 observers reverberated with a standing ovation, signalling that Kayveas had won an internal leadership tussle.
Kayveas is currently locked in a bitter dispute with Senator Datuk T Murugiah for the post of party president.
Murugiah, who is deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, proclaimed himself president at an emergency general meeting on 24 May 2009, while Kayveas was returned unopposed as president for a fourth five-year term at the party’s nomination on 30 May.
Murugiah has vowed to “fight till the end” to defend his post and bring justice to PPP members.
His faction did not accept the decision of the Registrar of Societies (ROS) which gave Kayveas the thumbs-up to be the legitimate president.
In his policy speech, Kayveas pledged undivided support and loyalty to the BN and its leadership under Najib and his deputy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Kayveas said the people’s perspective that PPP was weak was erroneous, adding that the party was strong and heading in the right direction.
He said the party fully supported the 1Malaysia concept initiated by Najib.
All Malaysian
“This concept cannot be successfully implemented by one community, but we have to function as one family. We have to be as equal as possible. There must be a balance between the rural and the urban. There must be love among all,” he said.
Calling on the government to do away with race, Kayveas said, “From now on, PPP will stop using the word ‘race’ and will refer the party as an ‘all Malaysian party’, instead of multi-racial or non-racial.”
Kayveas also lambasted the Pakatan Rakyat for creating unnecessary by-elections, suggesting that money spent on such elections could be used to build low-cost houses for the poor.
He also reiterated his party’s earlier stand to introduce the mother tongue as a compulsory subject in all national schools.
On scholarships, the party president said they should be given based on merit, and that young Malaysians should not feel discriminated at an early age, as this discontentment would remain in their hearts as they grew older.
“Therefore, policies which have the slightest tint of discrimination should be changed immediately,” he noted.
Kayveas also called on Socso to provide benefits for members who met with accidents after office hours.
He also urged the authorities to thoroughly investigate deaths in police custody, and charge those responsible for murder.
“This is to safeguard the integrity and impartiality of the police force,” he added. — Bernama
See also:
PM: Murugiah’s status to be determined
Murugiah thanks PM
