Independent MP Tan Tee Beng believes that the Zaid Ibrahim-helmed party can bring about meaningful changes to the nation.
PETALING JAYA: The People’s Welfare Party (Kita) welcomed its newest member today, Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng.
Speaking at a press conference here, the former PKR MP, flanked by Kita president Zaid Ibrahim, said: “I believe Kita can bring meaningful changes to the nation.”
Last year, Tan quit PKR after facing the party’s disciplinary board for openly criticising Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
Tan said that he was courted by various parties including Barisan Nasional during his tenure as an independent lawmaker but he was looking for a party that promoted fairness, equality and transparency.
“And in Zaid, I see a man consistent in promoting truth and unity,” he added.
Asked whether he had informed fellow independent MPs from Konsensus Bebas, of which he is a member, Tan said it was not necessary to inform them.
“They are not my parents. The group came about for us to share a platform to help one another as we lacked resources,” he explained.
‘He’s not a political frog’
Meanwhile, Zaid said that he was glad that Kita was able to attract young leaders into its fold despite being a fledgling political outfit.
“It is a bold move by Tan to join us as he believes Kita is the party of the future,” he added.
The former law minister, an ex PKR member himself, hoped that more people, including aspiring MPs and state assemblymen, would join Kita.
“We are open to anyone who has the nation’s interest at heart. Since we are a new party, we have no baggage and cronies with us,” he said.
Asked if Tan’s decision to join Kita would see him being branded as a “political frog”, Zaid said not everyone should be labelled as such.
He stressed that leaving a party based on principles as opposed to trivial reasons was different.
“Even I was accused of being a ‘frog’ but we are not like Dr Mahathir Mohamad who leaves the party just because Pak Lah (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) was helming Umno then,” he said.
Zaid also announced that his party would be launching its own version of a social networking site for its members called KomunitiKita.
The site, he said, would allow party members to debate and exchange ideas over varous issues affecting the nation.
“This would help us get feedback and ideas from all our members,” he said, adding that the move would decentralise the party’s decision-making process.
