No 'compromise plan' for veep posts, says Bersatu leader

A Bersatu leader has denied the existence of any compromise plan involving the party’s vice-presidency positions in next month’s party election.

Selangor Bersatu deputy chief Mohd Rafiq Abdullah instead said the compromise plan only applies to the positions of party deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu, secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin, and supreme council member Azmin Ali.

“I admit there is a compromise plan, but let me clarify that the plan we agreed on is for (Bersatu president) Muhyiddin Yassin to negotiate and decide on the three key figures in the party: Hamzah, Azmin, and Faizal.

“Only these three are involved because we value all three, who are important figures in the party.

“That’s the decision we made, to let Tan Sri (Muhyiddin) decide on these three. All other positions are open and very much up for contest,” Rafiq (above) told Malaysiakini.

The Kuang assemblyperson said this when commenting on Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal’s remarks questioning the actions of some supreme council members who allegedly disregarded Muhyiddin’s suggestions related to the party election.

Fayhsal reportedly said Muhyiddin was “deeply upset and disappointed” as some supreme council members were trying to undermine the “compromise plan” agreed upon earlier.

The Machang MP also questioned why they were contesting the vice-president positions despite having agreed to the plan, calling it irresponsible.

This statement by Fayhsal seemed to target senior Bersatu leaders contesting for the vice-presidency positions.

“It might still be acceptable for those outside the leadership to vie for vice-presidential positions,” he said.

“But, those within the supreme council, who initially agreed to support the president’s mandate, should not be contesting.

“This behaviour is irresponsible as the decision was made together,” Free Malaysia Today reported him as saying yesterday.

Democratic and open

Muhyiddin and Hamzah are unchallenged for the positions of president and deputy president, respectively, while six candidates have been listed for the three available vice-president spots.

Apart from Faizal who is a newcomer to the vice-presidency race, Radzi Jidin and Ronald Kiandee are defending their positions.

Meanwhile, three others have shown interest.

The only well-known national leader among them is Bersatu information chief and Terengganu exco member Razali Idris. The other two names are Rafiq himself and Batu Kawan Bersatu chief A’ziss Zainal Abidin.

In July, Muhyiddin said he had been mandated by the supreme council to negotiate with Bersatu’s leadership so that the party election would not cause divisions.

According to Rafiq, there is no issue of members not following the party election rules as claimed by Fayhsal, as no official statement was issued by Bersatu regarding the matter.

“Our party’s election process is very democratic and open, but it still adheres to the contest rules.

“That’s why, if we look at it, there were initially eight candidates for the vice-presidency, but only six qualified according to the party constitution, and they were accepted during the supreme council meeting and deemed eligible to contest.

“So, there is no issue. Even the president was present at the meeting and didn’t say anything,” he said.

Rafiq also claimed Muhyiddin remains open and supportive of contests, as long as the individuals involved uphold the party’s integrity.

Moreover, the Sungai Buloh Bersatu chief claimed that the contest was being held in the spirit of family, ensuring it would not lead to division.

‘Ask me to withdraw, I will withdraw’

At the same time, Rafiq said he was puzzled by how Fayhsal could make such a statement.

“Perhaps his views, reception, and understanding differ.

“Whether he misunderstood, didn’t understand, or pretended not to understand, we don’t know,” he said.

When asked if he would reconsider his decision to contest following Fayhsal’s comments, Rafiq insisted he would remain in the race.

“It is the delegates who will decide (victory or defeat).

“But let me make it clear, if it’s true (that we’re not following the election rules), Tan Sri (Muhyiddin) himself will contact me and ask me to withdraw, and I will withdraw.

“But it has to be from Tan Sri himself, not through others,” he said.

Meanwhile, A’ziss, when contacted by Malaysiakini, said there was no issue with him not following his party’s election rules and that he was contesting in the spirit of democracy.

“It’s clear I’m not being rebellious,” he said.

He also stressed there was no need for him to withdraw.

“No way. If I withdraw, people will assume various things about me, and that’s not my struggle. My fight is for the strength of the party.

“For those of us at the grassroots level, whoever becomes the leader and wins in the upcoming election, we will continue to support them.

“We are not enemies; we are one family,” A’ziss said.

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