Mahathir denies plans to postpone Bersatu's polls

Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad has denied reports of plans to postpone the party's elections due to be held by this year.

"We will not postpone (the elections)," Mahathir told reporters when asked to clarify online portal The Malaysian Insight's report that Bersatu may postpone its first ever party elections, pending registration of all of its divisions nationwide.

Instead of the reported postponement, Mahathir said the party aimed to hold its elections at an earlier date.

"We are of the view that it is very important for us to hold the elections earlier.

"We found that the current line-up of appointed leaders was, at times, unsuccessful in expanding the party," Mahathir said during a press conference after launching the National Rural Development Plan at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre this morning.

Clause 13.3 of the Bersatu constitution states that the office-bearers and the 15-member committee must be elected at the party's annual congress every three years.

The proposed delay by six months or up to a year is to avoid the risk of deregistration as all party branches must comply with the Societies Act 1966, several sources were reported as saying by The Malaysian Insight.

Section 12 of the Societies Act stipulates that a branch can only be set up upon approval by the ROS, which is valid for three months - unless an extension period is granted to the branch.

Bersatu was formed as an Umno-splinter party in September 2016 and moved to join the then Pakatan Harapan opposition bloc.

Since then, the party has attracted a long list of former Umno leaders and members. Its most recent expansion was to set up base in Sabah. - Mkini