Twelve Bersatu divisions have dissolved amid ongoing factional disputes within the party.
In Johor, 11 divisions dissolved as a group, namely Pontian, Simpang Renggam, Sembrong, Mersing, Johor Bahru, Pengerang, Labis, Tanjung Piai, Seri Gading, Ledang and Pulai, while the Dungun division in Terengganu followed separately.
Group spokesperson Isa Ab Hamid, who was also Pontian Bersatu division chief, said the move came after more than half of each division’s committee members resigned.
This was in turn caused by the protracted leadership crisis in Bersatu that caused the dismissal of senior leaders and MPs, he told a press conference in Simpang Renggam, Johor, today.
He said party leaders have failed to handle the crisis prudently, eroding the trust of members and voters.
"We have great love and affection for this party, but at this juncture we have had to make a courageous and dignified decision for the sake of the struggle for religion, race and country," he was quoted as saying by Harian Metro.
"Besides that, the inability of party president Muhyiddin Yassin and Johor Bersatu liaison committee chairperson Sahruddin Jamal to unite division leaders has made us lose trust in the party, especially in the run-up to the Johor state election.”
He said the Mersing and Lapis divisions have sent official letters of dissolution to Bersatu secretary-general Azmin Ali, and letters from other divisions are expected to follow soon.
Isa also said there was a possibility that other divisions would follow suit and dissolve.
‘Not moving alone’
At the same time, former Johor Bahru division chief Zulkifli Bujang said the group will consider offers from other parties together.
"We are not moving alone. Whatever decisions we make from now on will be made together. Our struggle remains the same, only the platform may be different," the Malay daily quoted him as saying.
Separately, Zulkifli told Malaysiakini that the resignation of 11 division heads shows how Muhyiddin has lost touch with grassroots leaders, even in the latter's own state.
"He chose to retain his position rather than save the party," Zulkifli said.
He further said the group has placed their trust in former Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin.
"We believe Hamzah can drive and continue our struggle in a more organised and strategic manner," he added.
In a later development today, the Dungun Bersatu division announced its dissolution, with 1,880 members leaving the party.
Division chief Abdul Aziz Ismail told a press conference that all party wing committees in Dungun unanimously decided to resign.
According to Sinar Harian, Abdul Aziz said the former Bersatu members and leaders will be involved in a new political platform led by Hamzah.
"We, led by Hamzah, God willing, will be ready to migrate to a new political arena and will join the party in question in the near future.
"We will wait for the official announcement on this, which will be made by Hamzah later," he said.
Previously, Hamzah declined to confirm whether he would join an existing party like Umno or PAS, or form a new one with his supporters.
‘Desperate act’
Earlier today, Azmin dismissed announcements that several of Bersatu's divisions have dissolved, calling them baseless and unconstitutional.
He added that the four divisions which announced their dissolution recently are also intact.
He also labelled the situation as a "desperate act by a small number of individuals with malicious intent", and accused them of seeking to damage the image and dignity of Bersatu and to destabilise it.
Last week, Hamzah, along with 16 other party leaders and lawmakers, including Zulkifli, were sacked from the party by its disciplinary council.
Since the incident, Bersatu has seen a mass exodus of party grassroots leaders and members, who announced their loss of confidence in Muhyiddin. - Mkini
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