The former head of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy proposed ways on Sunday to fight corruption in a bid to reform the political party embroiled in internal factional strife.

Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo said that party members involved in corruption allegations should be immediately kicked out regardless of their status, calling for "zero tolerance" toward corruption.

"If we do not fight corruption within our party, we cannot cope with corruption in the country. Now is the time for the NPAD to reform itself from scratch," Ahn said in a press conference which marked the third anniversary of his entrance into the political realm.

The proposal came from the NPAD's reform committee, which was set up in May with the goal of resolving its internal factional feuds and to reverse the party's falling popularity.

The main opposition party underwent crushing defeats in the parliamentary by-elections in April, raising urgency for the NPAD to win back voters' hearts ahead of next year's general elections.

Moon Jae-in, chairman of the NPAD, has been in conflict with Ahn over Moon's recent proposal to hold a confidence vote on his leadership.

Moon earlier said that he will step down if the party does not approve a new set of reform measures proposed by the reform committee, including how to pick candidates for the general elections next April.

Ahn criticized the NPAD chairman, saying that his proposal will only aggravate the factional strife. Members of minority factions also vehemently opposed the proposal, saying that the move will only benefit Moon's followers.

Later in the day, NPAD lawmakers and senior party members plan to discuss the issue of Moon's confidence vote.

Also Sunday, Chun Jung-bae, an opposition-turned-independent lawmaker, announced plans to form a new party. He said that he is planning to create the party by January next year. (Yonhap)