Gerik Bersatu Youth Refuses To Wade Into Party Leadership Tussle

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While most Perak Bersatu divisions have weighed in firmly in support of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, Gerik Bersatu Youth has refused to take sides in the power struggle between Muhyiddin and ex-premier Mahathir Mohamad
"It is common knowledge that the party is at a point in time where there is a very sharp clash between the party's founders, and Gerik Bersatu Youth has been called upon to express our stand on internal issues currently affecting Bersatu
"While we respect the position of those who support party president Muhyiddin, we also respect the position of (Tun) Mahathir's supporters. Mahathir was the founder of the party which won in GE14, while Muhyiddin was alongside him

"We will continue to support all legitimate party leadership and we will express our support only through the ballot boxes (in the upcoming party elections), not through any media statement," said Gerik Bersatu Youth chief Ahmad Safwan Mohamad (above) in a statement last night
The division's neutral position in the ongoing Bersatu power struggle is notable because division chiefs and women chiefs from all 24 Perak Bersatu divisions stated their “undivided support” for Muhyiddin as party president and prime minister yesterday
However, only 21 Bersatu Youth chiefs were undersigned in the “special press statement”
Aside from Ahmad Safwan, Lumut Bersatu Youth chief Akmal Maradzi did not sign the statement while the Sungai Siput division has no youth wing
Shortly after the change of federal government in March, Perak’s Harapan state government also fell to PN following several defections. Nevertheless, Chenderiang assemblyperson Ahmad Faisal Azumu - who is also the Perak Bersatu chief - was reappointed Menteri Besar
Akmal lamented the divisions in the party saying they had started with the 'Sheraton Move' on Feb 23 that Mahathir as party chairperson had not approved of, despite claims that Bersatu leaving Pakatan Harapan have been decided by the Supreme Council.

"All of the developments that followed were the result of a misunderstanding between the party leadership, which eventually led to the nullification of the membership of several of the party's biggest names, including party founder Mahathir."The memberships of Mahathir and four MPs aligned to him were “nullified” following their move to sit on the Opposition bench during the May 18 Dewan Rakyat sitting.

"This should have been resolved within the party through discussions. Unfortunately, that didn't occur because of their own stand not to compromise," said Akmal, adding that the Gerik youth wing had been contacted by various parties who wanted to use its voice
"Our focus is to develop the talents of young people and experts in the Gerik Division. We hope this stance will be respected by all," he said. - Mkini

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