Bersatu Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman urged party members not to remain silent but to rise up again to challenge the presence of kleptocrats in the new government.
In an impassioned plea to about 200 members in Alor Setar, Kedah last night, he said this was not a question of "breaking up" Bersatu.
"It's not a question of disunity in Bersatu, it's a question of dignity and principle of Bersatu as a party to fight corruption and promote justice," Syed Saddiq (above) said to loud cheers from the crowd who gathered in their bright red Bersatu uniforms at Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir's official residence in Mentaloon.
He also urged members to defend Kedah as it is Bersatu's stronghold.
"Put aside posts and power to restore Bersatu into a party with dignity and principles like when it first started," Syed Saddiq, who was the former youth and sports minister, said.
"Let's continue to fight together with Dr Mahathir Mohammad," he pleaded, with more cheers from the members.
Syed Saddiq said Mahathir rejected the idea of being the prime minister for Umno, which was why he resigned on Feb 24, the day after the now-infamous Sheraton Move.
The move, which happened on Sunday before the Harapan government collapsed, was allegedly organised by sacked PKR deputy president Azmin Ali to garner support for Mahathir.
This led to Bersatu acting chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin being appointed the 8th prime minister with Umno, PAS and Azmin's faction in the Perikatan Nasional government.
However, Syed Saddiq said Mahathir obtained information that Umno would threaten the stability of the new Bersatu-led government as they reportedly have the numbers and strong political power.
Syed Saddiq said they had started to flex their power when yesterday, former premier Najib Abdul Razak expressed gratitude for the new government, saying perhaps now there would be a more conducive atmosphere in 1MDB trials.
He cited another case where Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is facing trial for corruption, managed to postpone his case reportedly to meet with Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to discuss cabinet posts.
However, the Prime Minister's Office issued a statement to say there was no such meeting.
On this, Syed Saddiq said: "Who is wrong and who is right? As later, a statement was issued to say there was a meeting but it was not official".
"What do we do? Do we remain quiet? They are threatening us. Where is our future? After we struggled so hard to get rid of Umno, Bersatu has invited them into government.
"Why did we work so hard to get rid of them then? Why did I join politics, may as well kept quiet and let them win, there is no difference now.". - Mkini
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