SHAH ALAM - Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) is not racist, but instead focuses on going against the current Malay-led party Umno.
Its chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the movement was established as a place for the Malays to determine the solutions to the problems they faced and to support the future of Malays in this multiracial country.
"To go head-to-head against Umno, if we are not a Malay-based party, the Malays would not support us. For that reason, we created a Malay-based party to compete with Umno.
"In the election, GTA will go up against Umno and we hope to get support from the people, not because they are party members but as Malays who are aware and curious about the future,” he said in a Facebook post on Sunday.
On Thursday, Dr Mahathir announced the formation of GTA made up of political parties, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), professionals and individuals.
The former prime minister announced that the coalition will compete in 120 parliamentary seats in the 15th General Election (GE15) and all the seats will be placed in the Malay majority areas in Peninsular Malaysia.
Dr Mahathir said the establishment of GTA was not intended to confiscate the properties of non-Malays or prevent Malays from trying to gain wealth.
"We will fight to make it right for the Malays so that they can also gain something in this country.
"We invite all Malays to join us and support GTA's struggle. In GE15, we will contest as a movement and will field candidates from political parties, NGOs, certain individuals, professionals and academics," he said.