Bersatu veep downplays exodus, says most in Selangor back Muhyiddin

A majority of Selangor Bersatu divisions support party president Muhyiddin Yassin, assured vice-president Abdul Rashid Asari.

This comes after Klang, Kuala Selangor and Jeram Bersatu leaders quit the party earlier this month.

The defections followed former party chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s move to set up a new party to challenge Bersatu.

Speaking to the media tonight, Rashid said the remaining 19 state divisions were intact.

“Of the 22 divisions in Selangor, 19 division chiefs are solidly behind the president in leading the party’s struggle.

“Of the three divisions where its leaders left the party, two divisions are being led by deputy chiefs who are now the acting chiefs.

“We have yet to select a replacement chief for only one division,” the Selangor Bersatu chief said while flanked by division leaders at a party meeting in Klang.

Rashid added that the party had “more than 50,000” members in Selangor and claimed most who quit were “those who lost” in the party election.

Tonight’s meeting was held ahead of the final day of party polls this Saturday.

Umno dissent no issue

Asked if Selangor Umno grassroots were receptive to Bersatu’s move to join Muafakat Nasional, Rashid admitted that there was some unhappiness on the ground.

However, he believed most will eventually come around given top-level Umno leaders already back the move.

“Actually, there are some from Umno who disagree and all that, but that is just a portion.

“But Umno leaders agree in principle to be with Bersatu in Muafakat,” he said.

Several top Umno leaders have expressed unease over inviting Bersatu into Muafakat.

Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan previously pointed to “not so good” feedback from party grassroots on the move.

Earlier today, Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki issued a strongly worded statement outlining reasons for the dissent.

Among the five reasons were the presence of Umno “traitors’ in Bersatu, past demeaning statements by Bersatu leaders about Umno, and Bersatu’s fractured state.

Asyraf also noted how Bersatu’s entry appeared “hurried” and “desperate” compared to Umno’s decision to cooperate with PAS.  - Mkini