JOHOR BARU: Johor Parti Pejuang Tanahair (Pejuang) claims several politicians, including elected representatives, have shown interest in joining as members.

       State pro-tem committee deputy chairman Nornekman Osman (pic), however, declined to reveal their names as Pejuang was still waiting to be registered as a political party by the Home Ministry and Registrar of Societies (ROS).

       “There are some politicians who want to join us but I cannot reveal their names yet as we expect to know whether our application will be approved by next Friday (July 9).

       “The Johor Pejuang pro tempt committee is chaired by Sri Gading MP Datuk Shahruddin Md Salleh, who will be making an official announcement, as we also have many individuals who want to become members in all 26 parliamentary constituencies in the state,” he added.

       Nornekman, who is the son of former Johor mentri besar Datuk Osman Sapian, said this when met during a charity medical check-up programme for the homeless here on Friday (July 2).

       He added that it was up to the Home Ministry and ROS to give their approval but he believed that Pejuang was a small party that should be given freedom for better democracy.

       During the event, one-term Nusajaya (now known as Kota Iskandar) assemblyman Dr Zaini Abu Bakar was seen carrying out the free medical checks.

       He represented Umno during his term as assemblyman from 2013 to 2018 but he was dropped during the 14th general election (GE14), when Umno lost the seat to Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah).

       “I joined Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) as a normal member in its Pulai division after the last general election.

       “Now, I join Pejuang as I feel it is more dynamic and active than Bersatu,” he said, adding that his membership with Bersatu was automatically terminated after joining Pejuang.

       When asked if he joined Pejuang in an attempt to make a political comeback in Johor, Dr Zaini said it was not his decision.

       “Let's just see how things go as I am currently just a normal member of Pejuang,” he said.

       Dr Zaini, who has more than 30 years of medical experience, said he had always been active in giving service to the rakyat through his clinic in Iskandar Puteri even though he was no longer an elected representative.

       On June 25, Bernama reported that the High Court had ordered Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin to make a decision on an appeal by Pejuang regarding its registration within 14 days.