Bersatu sacks Saifuddin Abdullah effective today

Bersatu has sacked its supreme council member Saifuddin Abdullah, effective today.

According to a Bersatu disciplinary board letter dated today and addressed to Saifuddin, the board stated that it had made the decision during a meeting yesterday.

The letter, which stated that Saifuddin had contravened Clause 9.1.4 of the party's constitution, did not mention the Indera Mahkota MP's specific offence.

When contacted by Malaysiakini, Saifuddin confirmed the matter.

"I will be making an appeal," the former minister said.

On Nov 3 last year, Astro Awani reported that the Bersatu disciplinary board summoned Saifuddin after he began openly campaigning for the resignation of his party president, Muhyiddin Yassin.

This was after he went public with his opposition to Muhyiddin in October of the same year.

He also called for his former PKR ally Azmin Ali, who is a staunch Muhyiddin supporter, to be removed as Bersatu secretary-general, citing "morality".

Following the remarks, Saifuddin was removed as Pahang Perikatan Nasional chief.

Besides calling for a change in leadership, Saifuddin and 15 other Bersatu lawmakers also signed a letter addressed to Muhyiddin voicing objection to the sacking of Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan and the suspension of Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal.

They also objected to the disciplinary board summoning Hamzah Zainudin, Muhyiddin's deputy.

Saifuddin defended his criticism of Muhyiddin, saying the former premier had done the same when Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was Umno president.

Succession issue

On Oct 31, Hamzah said Muhyiddin will hand over the presidency when the latter is ready.

Amid reports of mounting tensions within the party, Hamzah likened the passing of the presidency to a 4x100m relay race.

"Maybe I'm the second runner and he's the first runner. I'm just waiting. While he's near me, he (will) pass the baton, I will take it.

"Just as long as it is not over the line," he said on BFM’s Breakfast Grille.

During the interview, Hamzah claimed that he had alerted Muhyiddin to the burgeoning factionalism even before the Bersatu annual general meeting (AGM).

During the AGM, several delegates had openly called for Muhyiddin to resign, causing a stir.

Hamzah further claimed that he had neither supported nor encouraged any efforts to place him as the president because he had only recently discovered such attempts, stressing his loyalty to Muhyiddin should not be questioned.

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