WITH Bersatu set for its June election, concerns arise over potential warlord culture and factionalism affecting top party positions.
Despite former premier Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin likely retaining the presidency, the competition for deputy president and three vice president quotas draws attention.
Reports suggest Bersatu should revise its election system to avoid fragmentation seen in other Malay parties like the PAS and the PKR in the past.
To be a candidate vying for a top post in Bersatu, a candidate must have served two terms on the Supreme Leadership Council, otherwise, they are not qualified.
Analysts are arguing that this ruling hinders democracy and excludes capable young leaders from contesting for top posts.
On Wednesday (May 22), Bersatu grassroots members urged for more flexible nomination rules for the party’s top five positions, expressing concerns over the party’s future following poor state poll performances and a recent by-election defeat.
With the current constitution limiting eligibility to those who have served two terms as a supreme council member or division chief, it pushes for the exclusion of key figures like Datuk Seri Azmin Ali and Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin in the top leadership.
Political analyst James Chin noted that members want stronger leadership from figures like Hamzah and Azmin due to dissatisfaction with current leaders, especially after Muhyiddin Yassin’s retraction of his resignation offer.
According to him, grassroots members believe Bersatu needs to assert itself within the Perikatan Nasional alliance to counter UMNO’s gains. – May 26, 2024
