Homeland Fighter's Party

Homeland Fighter's Party
Malay nameParti Pejuang Tanah Air
ڤرتي ڤجواڠ تانه اءير‎‎
Chinese name祖國鬥士黨
祖国斗士党
Zǔguó dǒushì dǎng
Tamil nameஉள்நாட்டு போராளிகள் கட்சி
Uḷnāṭṭu pōrāḷikaḷ kaṭci
AbbreviationPEJUANG
PresidentMukhriz Mahathir
ChairmanVacant
Secretary-GeneralAmiruddin Hamzah
Deputy PresidentVacant
Youth ChiefVacant
Information ChiefUlya Aqamah Husamudin
Women ChiefChe Asmah Ibrahim
Women Youth ChiefNurul Ashikin Mabahwi
FounderMahathir Mohamad
Founded12 August 2020 (2020-08-12)
Registered8 July 2021 (2021-07-08)
Legalised8 July 2021 (2021-07-08)
Split fromBERSATU
HeadquartersN-02-08, Blok N, Conezion Commercial Centre, Lebuhraya IRC3, IOI Resort City, 62502 Putrajaya, Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya, Malaysia
IdeologyKetuanan Melayu
Malay nationalism
Social conservatism
Islamic democracy
Anti-corruption
Political positionCentre-right
National affiliationGerakan Tanah Air
(2022–2023)
Allied coalition:
Pakatan Harapan
(2020–2022)
Colours  Blue pantone
SloganPejuang Berprinsip
(Principled Fighters)
AnthemBerjuang Untukmu
Dewan Negara
0 / 70
Dewan Rakyat
0 / 222
Dewan Undangan Negeri
0 / 607
Chief ministers in Malaysia
(Menteri Besar & Chief Minister)
0 / 13
Election symbol
Party flag
Website
pejuang.org.my
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The Homeland Fighter's Party (Malay: Parti Pejuang Tanah Air, Jawi: ڤرتي ڤجواڠ تانه اءير‎‎, PEJUANG) is a Malay-based political party of Malaysia, formed in August 2020 by former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in opposition to then ruling Perikatan Nasional (PN) government led by Prime Minister, Chairman of PN and President of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU) Muhyiddin Yassin.

The logo of PEJUANG party consists of a stylised Jawi letter, ڤ (P), which is the first letter in the word "Pejuang".

History

The party was formed by former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who was also the former Chairman of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party. He resigned as Prime Minister on 24 February 2020,[1] the same day BERSATU announced its departure from the then ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition.[2] In March, Muhyiddin Yassin, the President and the acting Chairman of BERSATU was appointed the new Prime Minister. However, Mahathir and five other MPs including former Menteri Besar of Kedah Mukhriz Mahathir, former Minister of Education Maszlee Malik, and former Minister of Youth and Sports Syed Saddiq did not support Muhyiddin and the new Perikatan Nasional (PN) government, for which they would be expelled from BERSATU in May.[3] They were later joined by Shahruddin Md Salleh, who resigned as Deputy Minister of Works only three months after his appointment while recanting his support for Muhyiddin.

In August, Mahathir announced that he would be forming a new Malay-based party.[4] On 12 August, it adopted the name Parti Pejuang Tanah Air, with Mahathir and four of the five expelled BERSATU MPs as founding members.[5] The party made its debut in the Slim by-election on 29 August, but its candidate Amir Khusyairi lost to the Barisan Nasional's Mohd Zaidi Aziz. On 21 August, Syed Saddiq, the only former BERSATU MP not to have participated in PEJUANG's founding announced that he would instead form a new party,[6] Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA). On 2 November, Mazlee announced his resignation as a member of PEJUANG only three months after its founding to become an independent MP. He would later join Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

In January 2021, the Registrar of Societies (RoS) rejected the party's application for registration.[7] The RoS' decision was appealed by the party but left unresolved for 5 and a half months. On 25 June, the High Court ordered the Home Minister to make a decision regarding the registration of PEJUANG within 14 days[8] and on 8 July 2021, PEJUANG was finally registered as a political party.[9]

On 16 April 2021, PEJUANG Deputy-President Marzuki Yahya said if Pejuang were to work with PN, it would only be done in the interest of the country.[10]

On 22 January 2022, Johor PEJUANG chief, Dr Shahruddin Mohd Salleh, announced that the party would be contesting in the 2022 Johor state election alone, but remained open to the possibility of co-operating with other parties.[11] PEJUANG contested in 42 of the state's 56 seats and failing to win any of them. Party president Mukhriz Mahathir blamed the lack of exposure of the party's logo as one of the reasons for their defeat.[12]

In the 2022 election, PEJUANG contested for 158 out of 222 seats, but no one was elected.[13] Mahathir, the party Chairman, as well as the party's MP for Langkawi, not only failed to get elected but also lost his deposit.[13] This was also the fate of two other PEJUANG MPs, namely Mukhriz (MP for Jerlun) and Amiruddin (MP for Kubang Pasu).[13]

On 11 December 2022, PEJUANG Youth Leader Abu Hafiz Salleh Hudin announced his resignation. He said the decision was made after taking into account various considerations including a sense of responsibility towards the party's performance in GE15.[14]

On 16 December 2022, PEJUANG Chairman Mahathir Mohamad resigned.[15]

On 20 December 2022, Federal Territory PEJUANG chief and party’s Executive Council Khairuddin Abu Hassan resign. He said he decided to take this action following Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s resignation as PEJUANG chairman.[16]

On 14 January 2023, PEJUANG left GTA. Its President Mukhriz said PEJUANG need focus on strengthening the party before adding value to any coalition. The decision was made after taking into account the views of the representatives in the second PEJUANG General Assembly, following the party's heavy defeat in the past 15th General Election (GE15). However, Mukhriz said PEJUANG took the stance of remaining open to hold any negotiations with any existing political coalition in the run-up to the State Election (PRN) which is expected to take place this year.[17]

On 10 February 2023, Mahathir Mohamad left PEJUANG along with PEJUANG Deputy-President Marzuki Yahya and 11 other PEJUANG members. They took that decision after PEJUANG acted out of Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA).[18]

On 16 February 2023, PEJUANG lost one of its only five MLAs with its Selangor State Chairman Harumaini Omar losing his Selangor Batang Kali state seat after Speaker Ng Suee Lim vacated his seat over his absence in the legislative assembly for six months.[19]

On 2 March 2023, Mukhriz announced that he had sent an application letter to Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin on 1 March 2023 for joining PN as its component party and hoped to receive a positive reply.[20] However on 21 March 2023, PN secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin revealed that the application had been rejected by PN a day before on 20 March 2023.[21]

Mukhriz announced on 22 July 2023 that the party would not contest in the 2023 Malaysian state elections, after its failure to collaborate with PN, and to prepare the party for the next general election.[22] This means its remaining 4 MLAs, including Mukhriz, would not defend their seats and left PEJUANG with no representation in State Assembly.

List of leaders

Chairman

No. Name
(Birth–Death) 		Portrait Term of office
1 Mahathir Mohamad
(b. 1925) 		12 August 2020 17 December 2022

President

No. Name
(Birth–Death) 		Portrait Term of office
1 Mukhriz Mahathir
(b. 1964) 		12 August 2020 Incumbent

Leadership structure

Members of Parliament

Dewan Negara (Senate)

Current Senators (15th Malaysian Parliament)

The party is currently unrepresented at Dewan Negara.

Previous senators

14th Malaysian Parliament

Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives)

Current Members of Parliament (15th Malaysian Parliament)

The party is currently unrepresented at Dewan Rakyat.

Previous MPs

14th Malaysian Parliament

Dewan Undangan Negeri (State Legislative Assembly)

Malaysian State Assembly Representatives

The party currently has no representative in any Malaysia State Assembly.

Previous Members of State Legislative Assembly

14th Kedah State Legislative Assembly

14th Selangor State Legislative Assembly

  • Harumaini Omar (Batang Kali, 2020-2023)
  • Mohd Shaid Rosli (Jeram, 2020-2023)
  • Sallehudin Amiruddin (Kuang, 2020-2023)

General Election results

Election Total seats won Seats contested Total votes Voting percentage Outcome of election Election leader
2022
0 / 222
 68 88,726 0.57% Decrease4 seats; No representation in Parliament (Gerakan Tanah Air) Mukhriz Mahathir

State election results

State election State Legislative Assembly
Perlis Kedah Kelantan Terengganu Penang Perak Pahang Selangor Negeri Sembilan Malacca Johor Sabah Sarawak Total won / Total contested
2/3 majority
2 / 3
2 / 3
2 / 3
2 / 3
2 / 3
2 / 3
2 / 3
2 / 3
2 / 3
2 / 3
2 / 3
2 / 3
2 / 3
2022
0 / 56
0 / 42
2022
0 / 15
0 / 59
0 / 42
0 / 42

See also

References

  1. ^ "BREAKING: Malaysia's Mahathir sends resignation letter to king". 24 February 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  2. ^ "Bersatu umum keluar Pakatan Harapan". 24 February 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Tun M dipecat dari Bersatu". 28 May 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  4. ^ "Tun Mahathir umum akan tubuh parti Melayu baharu". 7 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  5. ^ "Tun M umum nama parti baharu, Parti Pejuang Tanah Air". 12 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Syed Saddiq bayangkan tak sertai PEJUANG, tubuh parti baharu". 21 August 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  7. ^ "RoS rejects applications from Pejuang to be registered as political party | The Star". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  8. ^ "Court orders home minister to decide on Pejuang's registration appeal within 14 days". The Sun Daily. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  9. ^ "Amid political tumult, Pejuang says now officially registered as a party". Malay Mail. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  10. ^ "Pejuang cuma mahu kerjasama dengan PN untuk kepentingan negara". 16 April 2021.
  11. ^ "PRN Johor: PEJUANG bertanding solo | Berita Harian".
  12. ^ "Lepas hilang semua deposit, Pejuang kata logo kurang dikenali". 13 March 2022.
  13. ^ a b c "All 158 GTA-Pejuang Candidates Collectively Lose RM1.3 Million Of Deposit Money In #GE15". 20 November 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  14. ^ "Ketua Pemuda Pejuang letak jawatan | Free Malaysia Today (FMT)".
  15. ^ "Tun M letak jawatan Pengerusi Pejuang". Utusan Malaysia (in Malay). 16 December 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  16. ^ "Citing loss of confidence in leadership, Khairuddin Abu Hassan resigns as FT Pejuang chief". 20 December 2022.
  17. ^ "Pejuang keluar GTA - Mukhriz". 14 January 2023.
  18. ^ "Mahathir keluar Pejuang". 10 February 2023.
  19. ^ "Batang Kali seat now vacant, assemblyman evicted for absenteeism". The Star. 16 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  20. ^ "Pejuang applies to join Perikatan, says Mukhriz". The Star. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  21. ^ "Perikatan turns down Pejuang's application to join coalition". The Star. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  22. ^ "PEJUANG TIDAK BERTANDING DALAM PRN DI ENAM NEGERI - MUKHRIZ". BERNAMA. 22 July 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
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