Bersatu leader who criticised Najib rally quits party, PN

Summary

• Mahathir Mohd Rais has quit Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional after criticising the opposition over rallying in support of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.

• Mahathir, who was the Bersatu and PN Federal Territories secretary, announces his immediate resignation but does not give any explanation.

A Bersatu leader who criticised Perikatan Nasional's involvement in the rally supporting former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak has quit the party and coalition.

Mahathir Mohd Rais, who was the Bersatu and PN Federal Territories secretary, announced his immediate resignation today.

He did not give any reason for his resignation in his letter to Bersatu and PN Federal Territories chief Mohd Radzi Md Jidin.

On Dec 30, he expressed disappointment over coalition member party PAS rallying in support of Najib, calling the opposition's involvement "disheartening" and reeking of "political opportunism".

Previously, Umno and PAS agreed to stand together in a solidarity rally for Najib on Jan 6 at the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya.

Although Umno later backed out, PAS continued as planned, mobilising its members and supporters for the rally.

The Islamist party’s leadership came out in force, with many expressing support for Najib. Several Umno leaders also attended the rally in defiance of the party’s order.

The rally coincided with Najib’s appeal for leave to commence judicial review to compel the home minister and the government to enforce the addendum by the previous Agong granting the former premier house arrest.

On Thursday (Jan 9), Bersatu supreme council member Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, who was also present at the rally, said his party had no issues with PAS' aggressive defence of Najib.

PN leaders participated in the gathering because the royal addendum Najib was fighting to have enforced was a matter of public interest, he said.

Similarly, Bersatu information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz also said the relationship between PAS and Bersatu remains unaffected as both parties gathered at the rally to honour the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s decree.

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