KUANTAN: A group of businessmen have established a political party to contest the 15th General Election (GE15).

The Barisan Penyatuan Nasional (BPN) aim to bring a fresh dimension to the country's politics and will focus on strengthening the country's economic development.

Its chairman, Ibrahim Yahya, said BPN would comprise mostly businessmen or those with business backgrounds.

"BPN has been working closely with non-governmental organisations to help people for some time, but there are limitations to what we can do. So, we have decided to get into politics and contest the general election. 

"Through politics, BPN can focus on the bread-and-butter issues that affect people," he said.

He said BPN had identified five areas that would be in its manifesto aimed at helping Malaysians, especially those in the B40 (bottom 40 per cent) and M40 (middle 40 per cent) income groups.

"We want to focus on providing affordable housing, improving medical services and education, and giving more assistance to the disabled," he told reporters here today.

Ibrahim said although the Registrar of Societies (RoS) had yet to approve BPN's registration, he was confident they would get the green light from the Home Ministry.

"We have experts, professors and engineers who have been advising us on certain economic issues. We are in the midst of implementing them with our representatives at the states," he said.

Ibrahim said BPN would field candidates only in parliamentary seats and he would stand in Jempol.

He said BPN had no plans to open its membership to politicians from other parties, and wanted to be free from crime or corruption.

Ibrahim said plans were under way for BPN to open affordable supermarkets for the people.