BERSATU’s information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan is optimistic about his party’s future despite the exit of several prominent figures and dismal performance in recent state polls.
In an interview with FMT, Wan Saiful acknowledged that while Ampang MP Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin and Lahad Datu MP Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi were losses to the party, more and more people were signing up to join the Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin-led party.
According to Wan Saiful Bersatu currently has more than 800,000 members which indicates that the party is “well-received” and is a “positive development”.
“Yes, certain figures have quit the party but, to me, this is a normal process in a democracy. Everyone is free to make their own decisions, whether it’s to leave or join any party,” he told FMT.
On May 26, Zuraida – who is still the Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister – announced that she was quitting Bersatu to lead the newly-formed Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM).
Mohamaddin exited the party on June 28 and declared himself an independent lawmaker. The Segama assemblyman previously left Parti Warisan Sabah last October for Bersatu.
Zuraida’s departure had sparked rumours that former party comrade Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali and deputy Dewan Rakyat speaker Datuk Seri Rashid Hasnon were planning to leave the party.
Bersatu president Muhyiddin had since rubbished the rumours, adding that Bersatu seemed to have a target on its back despite being a “small party”.
In addition to Zuraida and Azmin, Puncak Borneo MP Datuk Willie Mongin announced that he had submitted an application to join Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB).
Willie, who is the Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister claimed that he was not a member of Muhyiddin’s party but was simply “parked” there to support the Government.
On this matter, Wan Saiful noted that the party was in a “self-evaluation” process to uncover the reason behind these departures.
He insisted that the party had a bright future despite its losses in the Melaka and Johor state elections and noted that Bersatu was merely five years old and the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition two but yet were already able to form part of the government.
“Bersatu helped Pakatan Harapan win in the 14th general election (GE14). What’s surprising is that we remained as the leading party in the government after Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad resigned,” he remarked, adding that for a five-year-old party this is beyond expectations.
Despite their losses the reality is that they received encouraging support in the Melaka and Johor state polls, he added.
Wan Saiful went on to say that he was unconcerned about PN and Bersatu’s defeat in the state polls, calling it a “normal thing”.
The key factor, he pointed out, was that the party was in the process of being strengthened.
“Look at PKR and PAS’ history, they had also taken a long time to (grow their support and) obtain a healthy number of MPs,” he was reported as saying. – July 7, 2022
