Some Bersatu leaders uneasy with Muhyiddin’s ‘formula’ for party polls

They say the approach is meant to protect ‘certain individuals’.

(FMT) – Several Bersatu Supreme Council members and division leaders are said to be uneasy over their president Muhyiddin Yassin’s “formula” for the party polls in October, which among others would see Hamzah Zainudin made his deputy.

They said such an approach was meant to protect “certain individuals”.

A Supreme Council member who asked to remain anonymous said members were divided over the proposal for the deputy and vice-presidency to go uncontested, especially after Muhyiddin’s announcement that he would remain as president for another term.

According to the source, the announcement at the party convention over the weekend caught many off guard, while those who did not attend the event learnt about it through the media.

The “surprise” announcement also meant that no one had openly opposed the decision, while some remained mum out of respect for the president, the source said.

The source also said that the current deputy president, Ahmad Faizal Azumu, and vice-president, Radzi Jidin, would benefit from a compromise of this nature as there would be no need for them to work to retain the posts.

And the prospect of the duo being retained in the line-up did not sit well with some party members, the source claimed.

According to the source, Radzi had not done much for the grassroots during his time as education minister from 2020 to 2022, and he allegedly ignored division sentiments when deciding on candidates for the last general election and state polls.

“In the 2020 party elections, we received ‘instructions’ to pick him. And now, history repeats itself,” the source told FMT.

The Supreme Council member also said that many were puzzled as to why Faizal needed to be
“saved” as members were well aware of his track record.

“These two are like the party’s golden kids.”

Last Saturday, Muhyiddin said that Faizal would step down and make way for Hamzah, the party’s secretary-general and opposition leader in Parliament.

He said Selangor opposition leader Azmin Ali would be offered the secretary-general’s position given his ability and political experience.

Muhyiddin said the decision was made after internal party discussions. Bersatu is expected to hold its elections in October.

However, Bersatu vice-president Ronald Kiandee said the following day that Muhyiddin’s proposal was merely a “suggestion”, and that no motions had been submitted to keep any positions in the party uncontested.

Meanwhile, a division leader in Selangor said many of his fellow division leaders were hoping for a contest for the top posts to help strengthen the party before the next general election.

He said many hoped that capable individuals would be given a chance.

“It’s 2024, but we are still getting ‘instructions’, and now openly. How will the party improve this way?”