SHAH ALAM, 5 Jan 2009: The People’s Progressive Party (PPP), a component of the Barisan Nasional (BN), plans to increase its membership to about 700,000 through online recruitment before the next general election.
Party president Datuk M Kayveas said today the ongoing membership exercise conducted through PPP’s web blogs was gaining momentum and popularity among youths after the party started to disseminate the membership form online.
“Our blogs have become increasingly popular and we have also taken to disseminating the membership form online. Those interested can become party members automatically if they register online, without having to go through the hassle of being referred to party headquarters for approval.
“And, as a prerequisite, every member must be a registered voter,” Kayveas told Bernama when contacted here today.
The PPP now has about 547,000 members.
Asked on PPP’s stand on its position within the BN, Kayveas, who is a former deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, said: “The issue is not about whether PPP wants to remain in the BN or not … the issue is whether the Internal Security Act (ISA) will be amended.
“As far as we’re concerned, PPP is still in the BN. However, we are positive that there will be a look at the current ISA laws.”
The last month of 2008 was a tumultuous time for the PPP, when the party courted media headlines with the sacking of former party president SI Rajah for calling on Kayveas to step down as the PPP president.
Rajah, a member of the party who described himself as the PPP advisor, had earlier rapped Kayveas for threatening to leave the BN if the coalition did not abolish the ISA.
Kayveas stressed that the Rajah issue was a non-issue and would not create factions in the party.
“PPP is a strong, united party that knows what it wants and what it is doing. No controversy will break us,” said the former Taiping MP who has helmed the party from 1993.
Kayveas also lashed out at Rajah for claiming to be the PPP advisor, and clarified that the latter had only been a party president, from 1975 to 1979.
