Majority of grassroots still back Muhyiddin as chief, says Bersatu

 The party's information chief says it is still compiling and going through the motions passed by the party's 202 divisions.

Port Dickson Bersatu unanimously called for party president Muhyiddin Yassin to take on an advisory role in the party instead.

PETALING JAYA:

 Former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin still has the support of a majority of Bersatu’s grassroots to stay on as party president, says information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz.

This is despite Port Dickson Bersatu unanimously approving a motion calling for Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin to take over the party’s leadership, and for Muhyiddin to take on the role of adviser and mentor instead.

Tun Faisal said Bersatu’s headquarters was still compiling and going through all the motions that were passed by the party’s 202 divisions.

“Based on what our divisions across the country have informally notified us, the majority of the grassroots members fully support Muhyiddin’s leadership and for him to continue leading the party until the 16th general election.

“Bersatu’s focus is to continue pushing for the resignation of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and to strengthen the party leading up to GE16. That is our focus at the moment,” he said in a statement.

Port Dickson Bersatu’s motion proposed that Hamzah take over as the party’s “main leader”, with vice-president Radzi Jidin handling the party’s administrative matters, currently managed by secretary-general Azmin Ali.

The division’s deputy chief, Akkil Aizat Othman, said Bersatu failed to grab the golden opportunity of championing the people amid purported missteps by the government in managing the country.

He said Bersatu needed to be more aggressive in its work while reforming the party’s disciplinary and communications systems.

Bersatu Youth dismissed the motion as a “cheap publicity stunt” that does not reflect grassroots’ sentiment.

Its information chief, Harris Idaham Rashid, said Muhyiddin had been given a mandate to lead the party.

“He is the president elected by the grassroots to serve until the end of his term. Our support for him remains firm,” he said. - FMT