Bersatu Agm Secures Muhyiddin But Sd Plot Lingers

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Bersatu concluded its annual general assembly in Shah Alam last weekend with a gala dinner to mark the party’s ninth anniversary since its formation on Sept 7, 2016.
Party president Muhyiddin Yassin, in his policy speech, winding-up address, and two press conferences, underscored the urgency for all members and leaders to close ranks in preparing to face elections as the leader of Perikatan Nasional.
However, Muhyiddin’s “advice” and open declaration of loyalty by his deputy, Hamzah Zainudin - who stood up against claims of attempted “treason” - appear to have only paused alleged attempts to push for a change of leadership through purported statutory declarations (SD) by about 120 division chiefs.
“The SD issue is not over yet. (On Sunday), everyone agreed to ensure there will be no more commotion at the AGM,” said a supreme council member who declined to be named, hinting that the adjournment on Sunday was merely a temporary plastering over of the tense situation.
The high-ranking source also named another party leader, whom he claimed is requesting a meeting with Muhyiddin to hand over the SDs.
“Just waiting for the right time to hand over the SDs,” the source added.
Bersatu president and former prime minister Muhyiddin YassinMalaysiakini has contacted the leader said to be holding the purported SDs and is withholding his name pending a response.
Alleged plot to remove the president
Both Muhyiddin and Hamzah, in their speeches over the weekend, had made references to alleged attempts at sidelining the former as party president.
The controversy arose after a “poison pen” letter alleged attempts to elevate Hamzah’s executive authority while undermining Muhyiddin, who is also the Perikatan Nasional chairperson.
Chaos erupted on Saturday night, the opening day of Bersatu’s AGM, when Muhyiddin, in his speech, referred to the alleged plot to collect signatures to oust him.
His remarks were met with shouts of “Not true!” and “Turun Tan Sri!” (Step down, Muhyiddin!), countered by louder cries of “Hidup Tan Sri!” (Long live Muhyiddin!).
Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin (left) and secretary-general Azmin AliIn response to the fracas that led to a police report being lodged, Muhyiddin, during a special supreme council meeting convened Sunday morning, called for an end to any open display of dissent during the day’s debates.
The source, who attended the meeting, also revealed that Hamzah and Bersatu secretary-general Azmin Ali had different opinions on the action to be taken against instigators of the commotion.
“Azmin asked for disciplinary action to be taken, while Hamzah said an apology would suffice,” he told Malaysiakini.
Hamzah pledges loyalty
In his speeches, Hamzah made direct references to allegations in the poison pen letter, stating there is no such culture within the party and urged that such unhealthy practices not be introduced into Bersatu.
The next day, in his winding-up speech, Hamzah again declared that there are no traitors in Bersatu - using the Malay term “Si Kitol” as mentioned in the letter - and pledged to remain loyal to Muhyiddin forever.
Muhyiddin, at a press conference later, reaffirmed his ties with Hamzah and described Bersatu’s line-up of top leaders as his “dream team”, ready to act as the “government in waiting”.
Another Bersatu leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it was clear that allegations of covert negotiations with PN component parties PAS, Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP), as revealed in the letter, were not directly targeted towards Hamzah.
Generic statutory declarationQuizzed further, the party source said, “Yes, there is a reason to suspect that Si Kitol and the ‘broker’ are referring to Hamzah’s right-hand man.”
He said this when asked to comment on whether the alleged individual is the same leader who had purportedly requested to meet with Muhyiddin to hand over the SDs.
President was ‘legitimately elected’
Bersatu information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz stressed that an SD is not a method and has no place in the party constitution to elect or determine the position of president or any post that has been legitimately elected by Bersatu members through divisional conferences and the AGM.
“All the more so if the SD is not valid, and its contents are based on false details, fraud, and contradict the decisions of the 2024 Bersatu AGM,” he added in a statement posted on his Facebook page.
In the 2024 Bersatu party polls, vice-president Ahmad Faizal Azumu had taken a step back from his former deputy president’s post and allowed Hamzah, as then secretary-general, to assume the No 2 post uncontested.
“Third, the parties who arranged for several Bersatu leaders to sign the SDs consist of only two or three individuals who have been identified, and there are witnesses,” Tun Faisal further said.
He added that Hamzah’s open declaration of loyalty should also put an end to all purported attempts by his supporters to sideline Muhyiddin.
At the end of Bersatu’s eighth AGM, over 2,000 delegates from 202 divisions nationwide unanimously supported three key resolutions - adopting the president’s policy speech, backing Muhyiddin’s leadership of Bersatu, and formally nominating him as the party’s prime ministerial candidate. - Mkini

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