'Cheap publicity': Bersatu Youth info chief pans PD's motion for Hamzah

Summary

• Bersatu Youth info chief Harris Idaham Rashid dismisses Port Dickson division’s motion to replace party president Muhyiddin with deputy president Hamzah as “cheap publicity”.

• Port Dickson Bersatu division deputy chief Akkil Aizat Othman previously argued that the current leadership has failed to address national issues.

A Bersatu party leader today slammed the Port Dickson division’s motion calling for deputy president Hamzah Zainudin to replace Muhyiddin Yassin as party president, with the latter taking an advisory role instead.

In a statement today, Bersatu Youth information chief Harris Idaham Rashid branded the move as “cheap publicity”.

“The Bersatu Youth wing takes a firm stance that Muhyiddin is the president who has received a mandate from the entire party grassroots to govern Bersatu until the end of his term. Support for the president is undivided.

“The Port Dickson division’s motion absolutely does not reflect the grassroots’ opinion, merely seeking cheap publicity.

“Bersatu Youth will steadfastly defend the president’s institution against threats from both outside and within,” Harris (above) said.

Failure to address issues

Earlier, Port Dickson Bersatu division deputy chief, Akkil Aizat Othman, said the present leadership lineup has failed to address issues experienced by Malaysians.

Using the analogy of a badminton match, he said this was equivalent to delivering an improper serve, causing the shuttlecock to fall onto their side of the court and awarding points to the opponent.

“So I feel that this is the appropriate time for the deputy president (Hamzah) to carry out his responsibility as the opposition leader, and the power transition from the president to the deputy president can be done smoothly,” he said in a TikTok video today.

Yesterday, Muhyiddin, who is also the Perikatan Nasional chairperson, denied allegations that PAS is backing a plan to undermine his control of the opposition coalition.

He said as far as he knows, he has the support of PAS - including its president, Abdul Hadi Awang - to continue serving as PN chairperson.

In a separate statement, Bersatu information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz said the majority of the party’s grassroots support Muhyiddin to lead the party till the next general election.

This was based on unofficial announcements from the party’s divisions, he said.

Proposed restructuring

Last month, Malaysiakini reported that PAS proposed restructuring PN to grant Hamzah significant operational powers.

Under the proposed changes, an executive committee helmed by Hamzah would be formed to oversee PN’s operations, while the presidents of PAS, Bersatu, Gerakan, and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party would retain their roles in the existing supreme council.

According to sources, the move is designed to position Hamzah as PN’s prime ministerial candidate, ready to take the reins if the coalition captures Putrajaya in the next general election.

However, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan denied such plans were afoot.

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