KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 7): Datuk Dr Rais Hussin Mohamed Ariff has exited Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) with effect from Friday (Oct 7) after having been a co-founding member since the inception of the party in 2016.

In a statement on Friday, Rais Hussin said he had sent his official letter to the party on Thursday (Oct 6).

He said he had been an inactive party member since 2020, after a heart procedure and focused much on developing and nurturing EMIR Research as an independent think tank focused on strategic policy recommendation based on rigorous research.

“Although I am not a member of PPBM, I will still actively pursue my struggle for better Malaysia for the many based on five core principles i.e., reforms, justice, inclusiveness, progressive and wasatiyyah (justly-balanced approach).

“This is what led me to co-found PPBM despite the monumental tasks ahead then,” he said.

Rais Hussin said he would continue his pathways of speaking truth to the power without fear or favour based on data, science and economics.

“That is indeed my DNA, sometime to my costs, but in the greater interest of greater objective of rebuilding this nation of ours for the many, not for few,” he said.

Rais Hussin was formerly chairman of the Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC).

He is also founder and executive chairman of the Emir Group of Companies.