Rais Hussin facing action for 'Harapan will lose' remark

Bersatu will take disciplinary action against its supreme council member Rais Hussin for tarnishing the party's image.

Although not naming Rais directly, Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad said this evening that those who sit on the council must be careful with their public statements. 

"We have discussed at length, among others, disciplinary issues, especially (those involving) members of the Bersatu supreme council and the (Pakatan Harapan) presidential council. 

"Those who hold the post must be careful with their statements. If they make a statement that tarnishes the party's image, action will be taken against them," he told reporters after chairing the Bersatu supreme council meeting.

"It has been decided that (the leader who claimed) that Harapan parties will lose... we will conduct an investigation and refer it to the disciplinary board.

"The disciplinary board will prepare a report and submit it to the supreme council to decide on the action to be taken," he said.

It is believed that Mahathir was referring to Rais, who recently said that Harapan would end up losers if an election were to be called in the near future. 

Mahathir also noted that his party had not appointed anyone to the post of chief strategist.

"This is a self-proclaimed title... there is no such thing," he said.

When asked if he was referring to Rais, he said: "Maybe."

Party polls postponed

Mahathir also announced that Bersatu's party election has been postponed to June 20, 2020 for the central level.

Polls for the branch level will take place between Jan 25 and March 1, and on April 4 for the division level.

The chairperson said that only those who have been paying their membership fees for the past two years would be allowed to attend the annual general assembly next year. 

Bersatu, which was established in September 2016, was initially scheduled to conduct its party polls by next month.

It later decided to put this off to apply the 'one member, one vote' system for the branch and division polls.

Mahathir also noted that those who quit Umno and are not embroiled in any controversies or court cases are welcome to join his party.

He added that he expects more state assemblypersons from Peninsular Malaysia to make the switch. - Mkini