It will take sometime to decide on accepting Umno members, especially the parliamentary members and leaders, who have submitted their application to join Bersatu, said Bersatu secretary-general Marzuki Yahya.

He said it would probably take a month or a year before the party could decide whether the former Umno members would be accepted or rejected.

"The applications will have to be referred to the authorities such as the MACC and the police to check if they had been involved in any wrong doings, before they can be accepted into the party.

"This is of great importance. We do not want any unhealthy culture in the party. The screening process may take a month, two months or a year. We are in no hurry to accept them," he said in an interview with several media organisations in Putrajaya yesterday.

The interview was held in conjunction with the party's upcoming second general assembly scheduled to take place at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) from Dec 28 to 30.

It was reported that the applications from the former Umno members would be scrutinised by a committee which would be chaired by the party’s deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir.

Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad reportedly said the party would only welcome those who were free from any misconduct or those who were not strong supporters of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Umno had been facing a crisis when several leaders including elected representatives announced that they were leaving the party to become independent members, while some had voiced their intention of joining the Pakatan Harapan component parties.

Marzuki, who is also deputy foreign minister said that despite the party hopping, Harapan needed a strong opposition to play an effective role of check and balance against the new government.

- Bernama