KUALA LUMPUR: Signs of disunity rose to the surface in Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) on Saturday (Feb 29), amid an ongoing power tussle in Putrajaya.
This came as Dr Mahathir Mohamad reunited with his Pakatan Harapan (PH) allies in the former ruling coalition and declared that he had the numbers to become prime minister again, less than a week after he resigned from the country's top post.
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Bersatu announced on Friday that it had chosen party president Muhyiddin Yassin as its prime minister candidate.
On Saturday, Mr Muhyiddin declared himself as Bersatu's chairman, ignoring a party statement that Dr Mahathirs resignation as chairman on Monday had been retracted.
“Article 16.9 of the partys constitution states that if the chairman resigns or is terminated, the party president has to assume the post until a new chairman is selected," said Mr Muhyiddin.
“Since Bersatu has not elected a new chairman, I, as the president, will assume the role of the chairman until an election is held,” he said.
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Shortly after Mr Muhyiddin's announcement, Bersatu secretary-general Marzuki Yahya issued a statement stating that the only individual with the absolute power to lead the party was its chairman, Dr Mahathir.
“Therefore, all partys actions and directions are subject to the decisions made by YAB Tun (Dr Mahathir) as Bersatu chairman,” he said.
READ: What you need to know about Mahathirs resignation and the political upheaval in Malaysia
Bersatu Youth vice-chief Aizad Roslan also rejected the partys decision to name Mr Muhyiddin as prime minister candidate.
He said in a statement on Saturday the youth wing will continue to support the partys supreme councils decision to back Dr Mahathir as prime minister.
Similarly, youth chief Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman said he would not work with the corrupt and form a government with them.
ANWAR OPTED OUT OF CABINET: PKR MP
Mr Muhyiddin had on Monday pulled Bersatu out of PH and partnered with Barisan Nasional, Parti Islam Se-Malaysia and others in a bid to form a new government.
With these parties backing him, Mr Muhyiddin emerged as the frontrunner in the race for the coveted prime minister post.
PHs original choice for PM candidate was Mr Anwar Ibrahim, after Dr Mahathir put forth a proposal to form a unity government that cuts across party lines.
However, on Saturday morning, PH backtracked to say it would now support Dr Mahathir as prime minister again, having successfully lobbied the 94-year-old to restore the PH government.
In an apparent endorsement of this latest decision, Mr Anwar tweeted: “Its time to do the right thing for the rakyat (people) and our beloved nation."
Anwar had a quiet breakfast at home with Kak Wan this morning. PKR MPs gathered at the hotel are all extremely touched by the sense of duty and sacrifice of Anwar Ibrahim, in paving the way for PH 2.0. Many are close to tears. https://t.co/HDEi8Y8aAk
— Wong Chen (@WongChenPKR) February 29, 2020
Mr Wong Chen, a Read More – Source
KUALA LUMPUR: Signs of disunity rose to the surface in Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) on Saturday (Feb 29), amid an ongoing power tussle in Putrajaya.
This came as Dr Mahathir Mohamad reunited with his Pakatan Harapan (PH) allies in the former ruling coalition and declared that he had the numbers to become prime minister again, less than a week after he resigned from the country's top post.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Bersatu announced on Friday that it had chosen party president Muhyiddin Yassin as its prime minister candidate.
On Saturday, Mr Muhyiddin declared himself as Bersatu's chairman, ignoring a party statement that Dr Mahathirs resignation as chairman on Monday had been retracted.
“Article 16.9 of the partys constitution states that if the chairman resigns or is terminated, the party president has to assume the post until a new chairman is selected," said Mr Muhyiddin.
“Since Bersatu has not elected a new chairman, I, as the president, will assume the role of the chairman until an election is held,” he said.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Shortly after Mr Muhyiddin's announcement, Bersatu secretary-general Marzuki Yahya issued a statement stating that the only individual with the absolute power to lead the party was its chairman, Dr Mahathir.
“Therefore, all partys actions and directions are subject to the decisions made by YAB Tun (Dr Mahathir) as Bersatu chairman,” he said.
READ: What you need to know about Mahathirs resignation and the political upheaval in Malaysia
Bersatu Youth vice-chief Aizad Roslan also rejected the partys decision to name Mr Muhyiddin as prime minister candidate.
He said in a statement on Saturday the youth wing will continue to support the partys supreme councils decision to back Dr Mahathir as prime minister.
Similarly, youth chief Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman said he would not work with the corrupt and form a government with them.
ANWAR OPTED OUT OF CABINET: PKR MP
Mr Muhyiddin had on Monday pulled Bersatu out of PH and partnered with Barisan Nasional, Parti Islam Se-Malaysia and others in a bid to form a new government.
With these parties backing him, Mr Muhyiddin emerged as the frontrunner in the race for the coveted prime minister post.
PHs original choice for PM candidate was Mr Anwar Ibrahim, after Dr Mahathir put forth a proposal to form a unity government that cuts across party lines.
However, on Saturday morning, PH backtracked to say it would now support Dr Mahathir as prime minister again, having successfully lobbied the 94-year-old to restore the PH government.
In an apparent endorsement of this latest decision, Mr Anwar tweeted: “Its time to do the right thing for the rakyat (people) and our beloved nation."
Anwar had a quiet breakfast at home with Kak Wan this morning. PKR MPs gathered at the hotel are all extremely touched by the sense of duty and sacrifice of Anwar Ibrahim, in paving the way for PH 2.0. Many are close to tears. https://t.co/HDEi8Y8aAk
— Wong Chen (@WongChenPKR) February 29, 2020
Mr Wong Chen, a Read More – Source
