WHAT is happening to Bersatu? Why are the Bersatu MPs slowly but surely drifting towards the government of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim?
The first was five MPs crossing over to the side of Anwar, the latest is an additional one. It is rumoured that more Bersatu MPs will be crossing over, giving Anwar a comfortable majority in the Parliament.
With more crossovers of Bersatu MPs, it serves no purpose to introduce fixed-term legislation for the Madani government to last one term. There is a difference between PAS and Bersatu when it comes to crossover. None of the ideologically sound PAS MPs have crossed over.
The problem is with Bersatu in general and the leadership of former premier Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. Rather than finding a replacement, the leadership continues with Muhyiddin.
He should have retired to be given the post of advisor.
However, in the last minute, he decided to stay in the post as president of Bersatu. It is apparent that there is dissatisfaction within the leadership ranks of the party. This could be one possible reason behind the defections.
Unlike PAS MPs, Bersatu MPs are invariably former UMNO members who lack the ideological and political mettle to stay in the party.
UMNO’s DNA continues and manifests in different ways in Bersatu. It is strange that the defections prompted by financial and other rewards come at a time when the present government has only about 20% Malay support.
Those who defected to the Madani government cited lack of funding for their constituencies as the reason for the crossovers.
The point is, how is the Opposition going to bring down the government of Anwar? What about all the talks by the opposition to get the numbers to bring down the present government? Was the recent “Dubai Move” a dubious one?
To prevent more crossovers, the opposition must get their act together. The present leadership imbroglio in Bersatu must not be allowed to weaken the opposition. Maybe Bersatu leaders have much to learn from PAS. – Jan 27, 2023
