Five of six Bersatu divisions in Malacca have come out in support of party president Muhyiddin Yassin but the sole remaining division - Alor Gajah - said it did not want to be dragged into the party's internal tussle.
Instead, Alor Gajah Bersatu called for Muhyiddin and disputed party chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad to meet and reconcile their differences.
"Alor Gajah Bersatu does not want to be involved in the quagmire as we believe it will be better to focus on taking care of the grassroots and hope the new leaders can achieve a resolution.
"Alor Gajah Bersatu will support whoever is our leader after the problem is resolved in accordance with the party constitution and rules," it said in a statement.
Even though Bersatu, which is now under Muhyiddin's control, had nullified Mahathir and his allies' party memberships, Alor Gajah urged Muhyiddin to involve the ousted leaders in an emergency supreme council meeting to discuss the party's future.
"Bersatu demands that Muhyiddin summons all Bersatu supreme council leaders including Mahathir, Mukhriz Mahathir, Maszlee Malik, Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman, and Marzuki Yahya for an emergency supreme council meeting to discuss the party's political direction and survivability, particularly in the 15th general election.
"The leadership tussle has weakened the party and eroded the members' confidence in our struggle," it said.
The statement was inked by Alor Gajah Bersatu chief Zamzuri Arifin as well as the division's deputy chief Nazri Abu Kasim, vice chief Mohd Raduan Ja'apar, Srikandi chief Rohani Ahmad, and youth chief Amir Fitri Muharam.
Meanwhile, five other division leaders, in a joint-statement, declared support for Muhyiddin (below).
"The prime minister should be given ample opportunity and space to lead the country and Bersatu to a higher level.
"The political crisis must end and priority should be given to the people, particularly on reviving the economy hit by the Covid-19 pandemic," they said.
Based on the status quo, Muhyiddin has the support of 113 MPs, a two-seat majority in the 222-member Dewan Rakyat.
Muhyiddin was sworn in as the new prime minister on March 1 after Mahathir refused to lead a new coalition comprising Bersatu, BN, PAS, GPS, PBS, and STAR.
Mahathir indicated he plans to take Bersatu back to Pakatan Harapan but at present, Muhyiddin appears to have the upper-hand in the party.
The five Bersatu divisions also backed the decision to quit Harapan, which led to the federal government's collapse in late February.
The statement was inked by the five division chiefs, namely Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen (Tangga Batu), Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (Masjid Tanah), Mohd Tadzil Yaakub (Jasin), Hishammduin Abdul Karim (Kota Melaka), and Azrudin Md Idris (Hang Tuah Jaya).
The state's Bersatu Srikandi chief Azalina Abdul Rahman and youth chief Ramlan Meon were also party to the statement.
Mohd Rafiq is also the Malacca Bersatu deputy chief.
Malacca Bersatu chief Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof, who is also the Alor Gajah MP, did not sign the statement.
Mohd Redzuan was previously speculated to be defecting back to Mahathir's camp but he later denied this. - Mkini
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