Muhyiddin sacrificing Bersatu, state govts for premiership

by Theleaders-Online | March 9, 2020 5:59 am

Newly minted Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin appears to have lost Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s (Bersatu) plot at the state level after successfully taking over the number one Executive position.

At the federal level, six out of 36 Bersatu federal lawmakers are against Muhyiddin. The six are Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir (Jerlun), Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah (Kubang Pasu), Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman (Muar), Maszlee Malik (Simpang Renggam), Eddin Syazlee Shith (Kuala Pilah) and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (Langkawi).

Ever since the infamous Sheraton Move, we have seen the fall of Pakatan Harapan (PH) governments in Johor and Malacca.  While Bersatu held the menteri besar’s post the both the states, the jobs now went to Umno instead.

Latest reports indicate Perak too is set to meet a similar fate as Perikatan Nasional (PN) takes over the state.

In Selangor, the state government is intact.  However, four out of five of its state assemblymen have declared their support for estranged Bersatu chairman, Mahathir.

In Kedah, Mukhriz continues to lead the party’s state chapter and the state with a two – seat majority. For a party that has declared it is divorcing Pakatan, it is rather confusing to see Mukhriz clutching over Kedah with Pakatan lifeline.

Bersatu appears to be married to Perikatan while continuing an illicit affair with its divorced ex, Pakatan.  As a Malay Muslim party, it is definitely wrong to do so if one looks at Malay customs and traditions.

English daily, New Straits Times in a report dated March 5, stated that the wounds within Bersatu runs deep.

Given this stark reality, it will be best for Muhyiddin to clear his party of people who are against him.  That is his best option.  The booting out of the Mahathir faction was first mentioned by Bersatu supreme council member, Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Yusof.

As for Mahathir, it would be best for him to form a new party with his son as party president.

The cleaning up process would further shrink the latest Malay party in comparison to its new allies – Umno and PAS even as they all pander to the same Malay vote bloc.

The star attraction in Bersatu even as Malaysia headed for GE14 was Mahathir and he still is, despite causing diplomatic tensions with several countries.  Muhyiddin pales by comparison even though he is the party president.

To solidify his position, Muhyiddin needs an image makeover.  He has to ensure his party leaders and members toe the line that he draws.

He also has to nurture young leaders in the likes of Syed Saddiq.  This is essential because the option of raising the number of Bersatu reps via party hopping is no longer present.

‘DAP the devil?’

On another issue, Muhyiddin had blamed the DAP as a factor for leading his party out.  Is the DAP the real devil?  The numbers at state level does not appear so.

In Johor, DAP has the second the largest number of state seats – 14 out of 56. The only party that has more seats than the Chinese majority party is Umno with 17 seats.

It is the same case in Malacca, with the DAP having eight seats to Umno’s 13 before the government fell.

In Perak, Umno had 27 seats to DAP’s 18 while Bersatu had merely two.

Negeri Sembilan is plain lucky as Bersatu did not make an impact. The state led by PKR. The DAP has 11 state seats to Umno’s 14.

So, while DAP held the most number of seats in the states mentioned, Bersatu leaders became its MB.

So, who is really the devil here?

Source URL: https://theleaders-online.com/muhyiddin-sacrificing-bersatu-state-govts-for-premiership/

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