Database issues worry Bersatu grassroots, but info chief says all’s well

 

Questions surround the accuracy of Bersatu’s membership database after two division leaders claimed its data has not been “synchronised” with the previous system. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: With party elections looming, two Bersatu grassroot leaders are concerned over the state of the party’s membership database, but one top leader insists that all is well with the system.

Bersatu information chief Razali Idris denied that the central database is plagued with issues, saying it is being properly maintained.

“It’s the original database and we enhance it constantly and it is still valid until now. I am member number 146,” he told FMT.

However, a Bersatu division leader from Selangor said the party has a new system in place but the data has not been synchronised with the previous one.

He claimed that the previous Bersatu leadership did not do a proper handover when they left the party. Former party chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad and several others were removed from the party’s membership roll in May 2020.

“When the previous leadership left Bersatu, they took the database with them,” he told FMT on condition of anonymity.

He said the new database was put in place recently and is being managed by party secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin.

“Everything still isn’t synchronised. It’s gone haywire, with some members still in the dark about their Bersatu membership number.

“For example, I registered manually as a Bersatu member years ago but now I can’t check my membership number because the new database is not synchronised,” he said.

According to him, the matter has been raised with the top leadership multiple times but the issue remains unresolved.

“We have brought this matter up at the state leadership meeting, and also to the Supreme Council. It’s been years but it has yet to be resolved.”

Another Bersatu grassroots leader expressed concern that the database issue may affect the upcoming party elections, adding it should have been resolved a long time ago.

“We can’t even be sure about how many members the party has currently. Those who are eyeing big positions could manipulate (the system),” he claimed.

But Razali brushed off the two division leaders’ claims, saying they should dare to be quoted and named if their allegations were true.

“If they don’t provide their names, then they’re just lying,” he said. - FMT