Bersatu’s retreat to discuss ways to attract more support

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin said the party wants to consolidate the strong support it received from Malay voters at last year’s six state elections.

PETALING JAYA: Bersatu’s top leaders will attend a retreat soon to study initiatives to help the party attract more voters, says its president, Muhyiddin Yassin.

The former prime minister said the party wants to consolidate the strong support it received from Malay voters at last year’s six state elections, claiming that Malay votes for Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional (PN) increased by 70% to 80% at the polls.

“Malay parties have never experienced this phenomenon before. What’s important for us now is how to strengthen the party over the next three to four years (before the next general election).

“Our top leaders will hold a retreat soon to study what measures Bersatu can take to become more effective and attract more voters,” he told Sinar Harian in an interview, adding that Bersatu has competent leaders who understand national issues and the party’s struggles in defending the rights of Malays.

Reforms for committees holding shadow portfolios

Muhyiddin also said the opposition will take steps to reform its committees holding shadow portfolios in Parliament, and that will align the MPs’ capabilities and strengths to their portfolios.

He said they will invite opposition MPs who have no experience working in ministries to take part in the committee with the goal of training them to become more familiar with national issues.

“This will improve our professionalism and show that Bersatu has competent leaders who have what it takes to become ministers,” he said.

However, he said they are not referring to any committee as a “shadow cabinet”.

On Feb 10, reform group Projek Sama urged the government to recognise the opposition’s “shadow cabinet” so that legislators can engage in constructive political engagement.

The group said these shadow ministers should take their oath before the King as “His Majesty’s loyal opposition”, and be paid an allowance of RM5,000 each month, but with no pension benefits or payments to EPF.

‘I don’t want to be a divisive figure’

Muhyiddin, who has served as Bersatu president since the party’s inception in 2016, also elaborated on his controversial decision to stay on as president for one final term.

Last November, he told Bersatu’s annual general meeting that he would not defend his presidency at the upcoming party elections.

However, the next day, he announced that he had changed his mind after being convinced by his wife not to “disappoint the members who need him”.

His U-turn also came after Bersatu’s Supreme Council and general assembly both unanimously rejected his decision to not defend his position as president.

“This is the voice of the majority. Yes, there may have been one or two (people) who disagreed, but we follow the voice of the majority … because that’s our practice,” he said.

“I don’t want to interfere in such things. I’ve been in politics for nearly five decades, so why would I want to become a divisive figure (in the party)?

“I see myself as the ‘father’ of the party. If there’s any dispute in the party, like children fighting for treats, I will remind them that everybody will get their share in the end. I work to make sure the party isn’t divided.”