BERSATU AGM | Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today that he is saddened by claims of certain division chiefs blocking new talent from holding leadership positions – a complaint commonly heard in Umno.

Mahathir also warned that such practices could destroy the party and cause it to suffer Umno's fate.

"I am saddened by claims that there are division chiefs who ousted those who are already holding positions, and who refuse to accept new people out of fear that they may be smarter than us and defeat us in the party election.

"If we do not allow new people to come in, then we will be division chiefs with no members. When that happens, it will wreck our party, and he or she won't be the division chief anymore because there is no more party.

"Look at Umno – what happened to them could happen to us," he said during his winding-up speech on the last day of the Bersatu annual general assembly in Putrajaya.

Mahathir said as a ruling party, Bersatu members stood to benefit in one way or another.

But out of power, he said, the positions members are striving for would be meaningless.

Mahathir also addressed calls by delegates to appoint them to certain positions, telling them to vie for positions in their own communities instead, such as on parent-teacher associations.

"It would be good if Bersatu members can fill all positions, not necessarily in the party, but in their local communities."

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