Former Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) vice-president Hamidah Osman has revealed that she quit the party due to its leaders’ refusal to accept criticism as well as “attacks” from the party’s Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.

She said she was disappointed in Syed Saddiq, who had once accused her of being an Umno agent.

“As a youth who is the same rank (age) as my kids, he should not do such things.

“As a mother, a woman and a courteous Malay, I cannot bear to see such a culture embedded in Bersatu.

“Unfortunately, it seems as if his actions are sanctioned because no action was taken to curb this culture brought by Saddiq,” she purportedly said in an exclusive video received by Sinar Harian.

She said Syed Saddiq only dared to behave this way because he was backed by powerful people.

When contacted, Syed Saddiq thanked Hamidah for her contributions to the party and expressed his willingness to put their differences behind him, including his "Umno agent" comment against her.

"That was before, when she was attacking the party non-stop and when she was not appointed as the Perak Bersatu chief.

"But there is no use prolonging the fight, only to be distracted from the battle.

"We may have disagreements but that doesn’t mean I do not cherish what she contributed at the beginning (of Bersatu), I wish her all the best," he told Malaysiakini.

Hamidah also fought back against those who accused her of coveting the Perak Bersatu chairperson position.

“Many say that when I wasn’t appointed (as Perak Bersatu chairperson), I was disappointed. That is not a factor because at that time I had a higher post, which was Bersatu vice-president.

“I am merely disappointed that the manner in which the appointment process was conducted does not guarantee or ensure Bersatu’s success in Perak as I had hoped and worked for since its formation in the state,” she said.

Disheartened by this “out-of-control” situation, she had made the “heavy-hearted” decision to quit Bersatu.

“I feel I am no longer able to fight alongside (Bersatu chairperson) Dr Mahathir Mohamad. This was not an easy decision to make but I am confident it is the best for everyone,” she said.

Bersatu secretary-general Shahruddin Md Salleh had announced Hamidah’s resignation last Saturday and thanked her for her contributions to the party.

On the same day, Bersatu co-founder Anina Saadudin had also quit the party, claiming that Bersatu is being badly governed by leaders who cannot be criticised.

Anina is the second of the seven founders of Bersatu to quit the party, after Kamarul Azman Habibur Rahman, who quit in April this year.