Bersatu moots new non-Malay chapter as Azmin, supporters join
Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin has mooted the formation of a new chapter in the party that would allow non-Malay associate members to hold positions.
This comes as Economic Affairs Minister Azmin Ali formally announced his move to join Bersatu along with his allies, including non-Malay former PKR leaders and members...
Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin has mooted the formation of a new chapter in the party that will allow non-Malay associate members to hold positions.
This comes as International Trade and Industry Minister Azmin Ali formally announced his move to join Bersatu along with his allies including non-Malay former PKR leaders and members.
In his speech at the National Congress 2020 event, Muhyiddin said he had personally raised the idea and tasked a committee led by Rais Yatim to look into the formation process.
"We proposed the formation of a new chapter that will allow associate members to contribute, to hold positions [...]," said Muhyiddin.
He said the committee's proposal would be tabled to the Bersatu supreme council and the final formation of the chapter would be done through the convening of an extraordinary general assembly (EGM).
Muhyiddin noted that the idea was also raised by speakers at today's congress, including deputy federal territories minister Edmund Santhara Kumar Ramanaidu who had applied to join Bersatu last month.
Another speaker, former PKR Kajang assemblyperson Lee Chin Cheh, who in 2014 vacated his seat to allow it to be contested by former PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, thanked Santhara for paving the way for more non-Malay members to join Bersatu.
Muhyiddin, who welcomed their support, promised that all new members from among the NGOs gathered today would be accepted into Bersatu.
At a press conference later, Azmin said he believed the move to open up Bersatu leadership to non-Malays was the way forward for the party.
"I think the younger generation would like to see all Malaysians actively involved in political parties and in setting the direction for the country.
"We should not allow only one race to dictate. We are all Malaysians,” said Azmin, who was formally accepted as a Bersatu member today five months after leaving PKR.
"I am not here to seek for any position. I am here to serve the people," the Gombak MP said when quizzed on his own personal ambitions in Bersatu.
In terms of support, he noted that Penggerak Komuniti Negara under the patronage of Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin had more than 200,000 registered members and the number would be larger taking into account all affiliated NGO members gathered today.
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