Fight like so-called 'warrior' – Rafidah censures Najib over Bersatu's status

GE14 | Despicable! This is the word Rafidah Aziz chose to describe the action of the Registrar of Societies (ROS) to slap her former boss Dr Mahathir Mohamad's party Bersatu with a provisional dissolution order.

She also asked if Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is so fearful of the former prime minister that he must resort to every possible heavy-handed action in the playbook.

“What has happened to justice, openness and democracy in this country?

“To employ such an unconscionable and irresponsible action just to try and prevent the party from contesting in the 14th general election,” Rafidah told Malaysiakini today.

The former minister also took a swipe at Najib's description of himself as a Bugis warrior, suggesting that the latter should engage his political adversaries in a more honourable manner that is befitting of a warrior.

“Contest and fight like the so-called 'pendekar' (warrior). Not in this crazy and disgusting way. I am sure the rakyat will resent this move and they have a right to be upset,” she added.

The latest blow, Rafidah said, comes on the heels of the “very questionable” Anti-Fake News Bill, gerrymandering and the unjustifiable delineation of electoral boundaries.

“Such perverted national governance, with no moral compass.

“Democracy is in its last throes of life in Malaysia. It will be buried by and with Najib and Co,” she added.

This afternoon, the ROS imposed a provisional dissolution order on Bersatu under Section 14(5) of the Societies Act, which comes into effect today.

The Umno-splinter group, which was formed in 2016, has been facing trouble with the ROS over its annual general meeting that was held in December.

There were questions over how the national level meeting was held before the branches and divisions could hold their meetings.

In February, Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin explained that Bersatu's constitution had stipulated that branches only need to hold AGMs a year after they were formed.

ROS director-general Surayati Ibrahim said the de-registration could become permanent if Bersatu failed to comply with the request of the ROS within 30 days. - Mkini