Bersatu dissolved, but spirit to take Putrajaya burns brighter

The Registrar of Societies (ROS) may have temporarily dissolved Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), but its members are determined to keep its spirit alive.

Over 70 Bersatu members turned up at the party's headquarters in Petaling Jaya last night, where its supreme council held a special meeting and a press conference afterwards.

The supporters all carried red plastic flowers representing their party logo, a red hibiscus.

While waiting for the Bersatu leadership to arrive at the press conference, a group held up a banner reading "Najib bacul" (Najib is a coward) and began chanting the phrase outside the headquarters gallery.

Many of the members also took turns to pose with the banner.

The top leadership including chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad, president Muhyiddin Yassin and deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir finally arrived around 11pm.

They were immediately greeted by an enthusiastic crowd, who began to sing the party's anthem "Perjuangan Kita" (Our struggle)

The leaders made their way through the crowd, and as they arrived at the location of the press conference, the crowd chanted "Hidup Tun" (Long live Mahathir) several times.

A member of the Shah Alam Bersatu Srikandi, Mastura Darby, 54, said she came to show her support for their leaders, especially Mahathir.

"This dissolution, what has happened, is a tragedy. Of course we are sad," she told Malaysiakini.

However, she said there could be a silver lining as she remained confident the top leadership would have a plan to overcome this hurdle.

"Let us not forget that there might be a blessing behind everything that has happened. Let us not forget that it has brought all Malaysians together with us.

"Of course we need to know that the leaders, especially Mahathir, would have their own plans.

"He has foreseen all this so we place our trust in him," she said.

'More angry at Najib'

For Shahrul Amin, 46, another Bersatu member from Shah Alam, this is a form of "oppression" by the ROS.

"Bersatu already obeyed what the ROS wanted, but maybe they have the power, so what can we do?" he said.

Regardless, he said, he still supports Mahathir.

He added with or without Bersatu, he would still support Pakatan Harapan as their goal to take over Putrajaya remains.

"No matter what, Putrajaya is our goal. Pakatan Harapan remains in our hearts," he said.

Despite Bersatu's provisional dissolution, 25-year-old Abdul Hannaan Khairy from Perlis said this has done nothing to dampen his fighting spirit for the upcoming general election.

"I am confident; my friends and Bersatu grassroots from Perlis, they are very spirited.

"In fact, this (dissolution) has made even more people angry with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's leadership.

"So beware, we will fight and make sure we win the elections this time," he said.

Yesterday afternoon, ROS announced Bersatu's provisional dissolution order under Section 14(5) of the Societies Act, which.reads:

"Where the particulars required to be furnished under subsection (2) are not furnished within the time stated in the order, or any extension thereof allowed by the registrar, the registrar may make a provisional order for the dissolution of the society."

Sub-section 2 of the Act states the ROS may request a society to furnish it with documents regarding its rules, list of office bearers and members, meeting details, audited accounts and other particulars.

Business as usual

However, Mahathir said at the press conference last night they will be appealing ROS' decision to Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, and failing that, to a court of law.

Meanwhile, the party will function as normal, he said, claiming only full deregistration can compel a party to stop all its activities.

"There are no provisions for them (ROS) to close our office or whatever while we are only provisionally dissolved.

"When they deregister us, then yes, but not now.

"If they want to question us, we have some lawyers and I would like to invite ROS to come here and have a small debate with our lawyers," Mahathir said.  Mkini