Dr M warns Bersatu against Umno's 'dumb and dumber' ways

Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad (above) today said the party should avoid being caught in a cycle of self-serving leaders who will prevent others with more capability to rise and succeed them.

Addressing 1,215 delegates at the party's Extraordinary General Meeting, Mahathir said the same situation had led to Umno's eventual downfall as the people moved to reject self-serving leaders.

"In order to preserve his position, an Umno branch chief is not keen to allow others who are more capable to be members. The only ones who can join are those dumber than him.

"But one cannot live forever, so when this branch leader passes away, his successor will be even more stupid, until eventually the branch becomes a dumb branch," said Mahathir, who conceded that the rot had started since the time he helmed Umno as its president.

Mahathir had quit Umno in 2016 and eventually moved to set-up Bersatu, along the way attracting support from former Umno lawmakers, particularly after Pakatan Harapan's GE14 victory.

Slightly more than a year since Bersatu's formation, Mahathir said proposed amendments to its constitution, which will be debated and voted on today, were aimed at strengthening the party's leadership and membership.

"All parties must have its constitution, and the amendments we have drafted is so that we can realign our struggle.

"Without a proper alignment of leaders, positions and duties, for sure our party will not succeed," he cautioned.

In his speech, Mahathir also pointed out how many political parties, like Umno, credited with fighting for a country's independence, have now been rejected by the people.

It was previously reported that among amendments proposed to Bersatu’s constitution, include the insertion of a clause that will enable the party to postpone internal elections at all levels.

The proposal states that the postponement of party elections should not be for more than 18 months from the original election date.

Another key amendment which is expected to be proposed is for branch-level elections to be held every two years, instead of the three at present. - Mkini