Bersatu Youth rejects Umno, wants to return to Harapan

Bersatu Youth has decided to join party chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad in rejecting cooperation with Umno and called for a return to the Pakatan Harapan coalition.

This comes amid infighting between Mahathir's faction and another led by Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, which is in favour of working with Umno.

In a statement, Bersatu Youth said this was the majority decision following a meeting today between its exco members, state leaders and Mahathir regarding the future direction of the party.

“Bersatu has been with Harapan since the beginning of its battle to save the nation. We have gone through thick and thin as a family.

“This position is based on a vote during the meeting and is supported by over two-thirds of those present, while the rest abstained and none opposed,” it added.

Bersatu had dropped out of Harapan and worked with BN and PAS to form Perikatan Nasional instead, during the political manoeuvres surrounding the Sheraton Move in February.

However, certain leaders in both Umno and Bersatu appear to be voicing reservations about their respective roles within the new coalition.

Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan had said that Umno had merely helped form PN to resolve the political crisis at the time.

Umno supreme council member Tajuddin Abdul Rahman had proposed that Muhyiddin should rejoin Umno so the two parties would no longer need to compete with one another, but this was dismissed by other Bersatu leaders.

Harapan has indicated that it is willing to accept Bersatu back into the fold but on condition that it agrees to abide by its reform agenda. - Mkini