'Bersatu accepts Muhyiddin won't defend president post next year'

BERSATU AGM | The Bersatu supreme council has accepted party president Muhyiddin Yassin’s intentions to not defend his position in next year’s party election.

However, Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin said the party will not accept any proposal for Muhyiddin to immediately step down from his position.

“I don’t want this to be a big issue, and I would like to tell you, (that) all of us in the supreme council have agreed that Tan Sri (Muhyiddin) said he did not want to defend his position (next year).

“That doesn’t mean he wishes to (immediately) resign,” Hamzah (above, right) told a press conference after Muhyiddin’s presidential address.

Earlier, Muhyiddin announced his intention at the end of his presidential address.

His announcement prompted delegates gathered at IDCC Convention Centre, Shah Alam, to stand up, and calls were heard for Muhyiddin to retract his remark.

At the same press conference with Hamzah, Muhyiddin explained that he will remain as a Bersatu member after the next party election when he will not be defending his presidency.

“Now the party’s decision is to postpone the election for 18 months.

“The election for these top positions will be held at division levels, not the general assembly.

“That means I will no longer be attending the (next) assembly as party president,” Muhyiddin said.

Met by reporters later, Bersatu vice-president Ronald Kiandee said the party’s supreme council will convene a meeting this evening to further discuss Muhyiddin’s announcement.

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