Muhyiddin: Earlier action wanted against Dr M, but I didn't want to be rash

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin said he had been pressed to take action against Langkawi MP Dr Mahathir Mohamad and allies earlier, but had held back as he did not want to act rashly.

This follows the party's decision to declare the Bersatu membership of Mahathir and his allies void.

"I personally did not want to act rashly, even though there were many demands to act against them earlier.

"I wanted to be fair to all quarters to ensure that any action taken is in accordance with the party's constitution.

"No individual is above the party constitution," he said in a statement.

Muhyiddin maintained that Mahathir and his allies were not sacked but had their membership automatically nullified due to their actions that went against the party constitution.

On Thursday (May 28), Bersatu executive secretary Muhammad Suhaimi Yahya issued letters to five MPs informing them that their membership had been nullified for sitting with the opposition during the Parliament sitting on May 18.

The MPs were Mahathir, Mukhriz Mahathir (Jerlun, above), Amiruddin Hamzah (Kubang Pasu), Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman (Muar) and Maszlee Malik (Simpang Renggam).

Suhaimi cited Article 10.2.2 and Article 10.2.3 of the Bersatu constitution.

The Bersatu constitution states that members who declare they are leaving the party (Article 10.2.2) or joining any other political party (Article 10.2.3) will have their membership automatically nullified.

The five MPs did not declare they were leaving Bersatu or joining any other political party but have maintained that Bersatu should side with Pakatan Harapan instead of Perikatan Nasional.

Muhyiddin urged Bersatu members to remain patient and calm over the matter.

In the statement, Muhyiddin was also referred to as Bersatu acting chairperson, the position that Mahathir claims he still holds.

Muhyiddin was sworn in as the new prime minister on March 1, after Mahathir refused to lead a new coalition Muhyiddin put together, comprising Bersatu, BN, PAS, GPS, PBS and STAR.

Mahathir has indicated he plans to take Bersatu back to Pakatan Harapan but at present, Muhyiddin appears to have the upper hand in the party. - Mkini