Why debate GE seats now as gov’t focuses on health, economic crises - Bersatu man

Bersatu supreme council member Dr Muhammad Faiz Na'aman took aim at fellow Bersatu leader and party deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir for allegedly politicking at a time when the Perikatan Nasional government was focussed on overcoming the current health and economic crises.

Muhammad Faiz was referencing a statement by Mukhriz yesterday, who called on Bersatu to stand by Pakatan Harapan coalition once more.

Mukhriz, who is the son of Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad, said Bersatu’s best chance politically was with Harapan as the party would have to compete for the same Malay base as Umno and PAS in the coming election.

“Ask the people, especially the Malays (as Bersatu is competing in conservative Malay-majority areas) if they cared if it was Bersatu or Umno or PAS that had more influence in the government now? Or if they placed more importance on unity, cooperation, tolerance and understanding between the Malay-Muslim-based parties through PN.

“Is it appropriate to debate the issue of seat allocation for a general election that still is far in the distant horizon when the government is focussing on national health and economy?

“Yes, of course, there are dissenting voices from within, but it is commonplace because it is not easy to please those with political parties,” Muhammad Faiz said in a statement.

He said it was time for all Malay-Muslims parties to bury the hatchet, as the current political strife was hurting the country.

A major split in the party occurred after Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin pulled Bersatu out of the ruling Harapan coalition in late February, joining forces with Umno and PAS to form PN.

PN later took over Putrajaya with Muhyiddin sworn in as Malaysia’s eighth prime minister. Former premier Mahathir and Mukhriz had been against the departure from Harapan.

Muhammad Faiz, meanwhile, today pointed out that the change in government was triggered when Mahathir quit as premier.

“The reality of the Malaysian government today did not exist out of the blue. It was the result of Mahathir’s voluntary resignation as prime minister and as Bersatu chairperson.

“It was no secret that when Mahathir was prime minister for the second time, he was constantly pressured by several leaders and supporters of the Harapan component parties to hand over the prime ministership to Anwar Ibrahim, touted as the prime minister-in-waiting or PM8 (eighth prime minister),” he said.

Following Bersatu’s exit from Harapan, Mahathir resigned both as prime minister and Bersatu chairperson, causing his government of the day to collapse. On a party-level, the Bersatu leadership, however, rejected his resignation. - Mkini