Bersatu aims for inaugural polls by June next year, says Mukhriz

Bersatu has targeted to hold its first-ever party elections by June next year, party deputy chairperson Mukhriz Mahathir said today.

He said this followed its extraordinary general meeting today which passed 79 of the 80 proposed amendments to the party's constitution including to postpone internal polls by up to 18 months from an undisclosed previous date.

"With this approval, the EGM allowed the party's supreme council to postpone the polls for 18 months from its last date.

"Whether we are going to go the full 18 months is another matter," he said at a press conference after the EGM in Serdang.

"Even if it were to be next year, we are targeting it to be not beyond June," said Mukhriz.

Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad earlier indicated that the party's polls would be held by end of this year but Mukhriz clarified there were certain matters regarding memberships which must first be settled.

With regards to a proposal for Bersatu to implement a "one-member, one-vote" system, Mukhriz said the matter was hotly debated and it was decided that this would be applicable only for elections at the branch and divisional levels.

As for the party's supreme council members, Mukhriz said they would be elected only by delegates from Bersatu divisions nationwide.

Following today's EGM, Mukhriz added that the amendments passed would be presented to the Registrar of Societies for approval.

Bersatu was formed in September 2016 and ROS rules stipulate that it must elect its leadership every three years.

Bersatu's current line-up of 15 leaders led by Mahathir and party president Muhyiddin Yassin has to date been appointed rather than being elected by members. - Mkini