Bersatu polls: Peja initially wanted to quit, says Muhyiddin

Outgoing Bersatu deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu offered to quit the party leadership when it was suggested that he make way for Hamzah Zainudin in the upcoming Bersatu polls.

This was according to Bersatu founder and president Muhyiddin Yassin, who said the former Perak menteri besar initially did not understand his plan for the party.

The former prime minister said he chose Hamzah to be his next deputy because of the Larut MP’s position as the opposition chief in Parliament, as well as his experience as Bersatu’s secretary-general.

“This means that he (Hamzah) has the relevant experience to take over the deputy president position that is now being held by Datuk Peja (Faizal).

“It’s not for nothing, (but) Peja did not understand. After discussions, he said he was ready to ‘berundur’ (quit).

“But I said that was not necessary, (and suggested) that he just takes a step back where he can fill one of the vice-president posts, which is currently vacant,” Muhyiddin said in an interview with Sinar Harian, which was published on Facebook this afternoon.

In July, Muhyiddin announced his “formula” to ensure unity ahead of the Bersatu polls, in which its senior leaders agree on the next line-up for the party’s top five.

According to his proposal, Hamzah is set to move up to the deputy president position, and Faizal will instead offer himself to fill one of the party’s three vice-president posts, which has been left vacant after incumbent Mohd Rafiq Naizamohidden quit Bersatu in 2022.

Two incumbent vice-presidents, Mohd Radzi Md Jidin and Ronald Kiandee, will also defend their posts in the upcoming party election.

‘Teams’ in Bersatu

However, Muhyiddin’s formula did not go completely according to plan.

While other Bersatu members stayed away from contesting the top two positions so that he and Hamzah could emerge as uncontested winners, six leaders are now vying for the vice-president posts.

On this, Muhyiddin said during the interview that it was part and parcel of democracy and the party would not stop eligible members from practising their rights.

“Although what they did was not in line with the supreme council’s decision, we leave it to the party delegates to decide.”

On rumours that the party is divided into several factions, Muhyiddin did not deny Bersatu having several “teams” but stressed that it was not as bad as its enemies painted it to be.

According to the party president, it is normal for any political party to have sub-groups within them.

“If we say there is no such thing as Team A, Team B, that is somewhat unrealistic. But this is human nature. Some people are comfortable with this and that person, while not so close with some others. It’s normal.

“But for me, these teams are not important. What really matters is whether we are united, and to me, we still have unity until this very day.

“As the founder or ‘abah’ (father) of this party, I don’t see any infighting or division among members. But some people have been making all kinds of forecasts, which I believe is just an attempt by Bersatu’s enemies who want to see us fall apart.”

Meanwhile, to another question, Muhyiddin denied the notion that Bersatu is a weak political party.

According to the Pagoh MP, Bersatu is relatively young compared to other parties, but it already holds a significant number of seats in the Dewan Rakyat and state legislative assemblies.

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