Bersatu rep defends party's Big 3, warns of internal 'parasites'

Summary

• A Bersatu assemblyperson defends the party’s top leadership, including Muhyiddin Yassin, Hamzah Zainudin, and Azmin Ali.

• Kota Siputeh assemblyperson Ashraf Mustaqim Badrul Munir warns of internal “parasites” who seek to divide the party.

• He asserts Bersatu is united and focused, unlike the ruling parties.

A Bersatu assemblyperson has come to the defence of the party’s top leadership, warning internal detractors against dividing the Perikatan Nasional component.

Kota Siputeh assemblyperson Ashraf Mustaqim Badrul Munir urged party members to cease actions that threaten unity, labelling such elements as “a thorn in the flesh or a parasite”.

“They claim to be fighting for the party but contribute nothing except suspicion and disunity. What they spread is not a strategy for the people, but schemes to pit comrades against each other,” said Ashraf, who described himself as one of Bersatu’s earliest members since its founding in 2017.

He named the big three of party president Muhyiddin Yassin, deputy president Hamzah Zainudin, and secretary-general Azmin Ali as the main pillars of Bersatu’s leadership, calling on members to remain loyal.

“Some among them have been slandered and sidelined, but they remain steadfast in carrying the torch of sincere reform for the rakyat,” he said in a statement.

Ashraf’s remarks followed a report by Malaysiakini, quoting a Bersatu source, that claimed PAS had proposed restructuring the PN leadership. The purported plan involved granting greater operational powers to Hamzah, who is also the parliamentary opposition leader.

Yesterday, Bersatu information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz welcomed clarifications from PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man and secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan, who reportedly dismissed the claim and accused the unnamed source of spreading false information.

United in struggle, unlike Umno and PKR

Meanwhile, Ashraf argued that while government parties were plagued with internal discord and policy failures, Bersatu remained “structured and focused” and must present a united front as a credible opposition bloc.

“Bersatu is not fractured. What’s fractured are the intentions of some who infiltrate the party to serve personal interests disguised as struggle,” he said.

He reminded members to respect the party constitution and decisions made through proper channels.

“If today Muhyiddin was duly elected as president, and Hamzah and Azmin were constitutionally appointed as deputy and secretary-general, then all members - from grassroots to state leaders - must protect party unity, not tear it apart,” he stressed.

Ashraf also warned that internal divisions would only weaken Bersatu’s voice on bread-and-butter issues, including the rising cost of living, low wages, and economic challenges faced by youth and small businesses.

In a jab at Umno and PKR, he claimed the ruling parties were trapped in “false unity” and factionalism.

“We are not PKR. We are not Umno, which now drifts in false togetherness. We are Bersatu - a party built on struggle, not betrayal,” said Ashraf.

“Enough with the perception games. The reality is that Bersatu is in order and on track. Those stirring talk of internal change are just individuals seeking shortcuts to the top.”

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