Syed Saddiq to propose opening up Bersatu Youth, Srikandi debates

BERSATU AGM | Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman is set to propose that the Bersatu Youth and Srikandi debates at the party annual general assembly should be opened up to the press. 

The Bersatu Youth chief said this when asked if reporters would be able to cover the debates at the party AGM in the future, with the debates this year taking place behind closed doors. 

“I will propose it (during) the next supreme council meeting,” he told a press conference at today's AGM, held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.

Srikandi Bersatu chief Rina Harun sidestepped the question, however, and pointed out that several AGM sessions were already open to the members of the press.

“This is the first time we have held an AGM for Bersatu Youth and Women. My policy speech and that of the Youth chief (Syed Saddiq) were open to the media.

“The wrap-up speeches, which are a result of the debates, are also open to the media,” she said.

Voting system to be decided soon

Syed Saddiq also said that Bersatu had yet to decide which voting system it would use for its inaugural party election next year.

He said that this was not just brought up during today’s debates, but was an ongoing topic of discussion.

“It's not just this AGM, but way before. We've already had meeting after meeting to decide what is the best way forward. We haven't finalised it, but the top leadership will decide very soon.

“(Bersatu chairperson) Dr Mahathir Mohamad pointed out three to four months ago that it will be 'one man, one vote'... it's still being discussed," he said.

"Even if we discuss ‘one man, one vote’, we have to zoom in (and decide) where the vote goes.

"Does it mean that (we start) from top leadership to the bottom like PKR, or only at the top, or only at the division level, to ensure efficiency? It's an ongoing debate, but it's a healthy debate among members."

In an interview ahead of the Bersatu AGM, Mahathir had ruled out the 'one person, one vote' method, and said he preferred the electoral college system of his old party, Umno.

In an electoral college system, the candidate who gets the most votes in a division gets one vote.

Bersatu, which was formed in September 2016, has yet to hold party elections and all its office-bearers – including Mahathir – were appointed. - Mkini