00:00Lawyer activist Siti Qasim has joined Larry Seung's Parti Bangsa Malaysia,
00:06marking her first entry into a political party.
00:09Siti, who contested as an independent in the 15th general election,
00:13had previously avoided political parties to preserve her freedom
00:17to speak and act according to her conscience.
00:20She explained that she joined PBM after its leadership agreed to respect that independence,
00:26allowing her to continue expressing her views and pursuing causes she believes in.
00:31Siti stressed that joining a party would not stop her from speaking against injustice
00:35or holding those in power accountable, including members of her own side.
00:41She also pledged to continue championing Orang Asli rights,
00:45constitutional freedoms, equality and marginalised communities as a PBM member.
00:51During GE15, Siti led independent group Gerak and contested Batu.
00:56Winning 653 votes and losing her deposit as PKR's P. Prabhakaran retained the seat
01:02with a 22,241-vote majority.
01:06Siti has remained a vocal critic of conservative policies
01:09and previously called for religion and government to be separated.
01:13In July 2023, bombs were discovered under her car during a routine service of the vehicle.
01:20Police later confirmed that the objects were improvised explosive devices.
01:24Adrian Fernandez, FMT
