Will more Bersatu members follow Rais Hussin's lead and quit, asks Ahmad Zahid

PETALING JAYA: Following Datuk Dr Rais Hussin's resignation from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says he wonders when other party members will follow suit and leave.

Ahmad Zahid also congratulated Rais for quitting Bersatu.

Rais co-founded Bersatu in 2015, and was appointed to the party's supreme council in 2016.

Rais, who is currently president and CEO of Emir Research, a think tank focused on strategic policy recommendations, was formerly Malaysia Digital Economy Corp chairman.

“Congratulations for being able to (tell) which party is relevant and could win the general election.

“For Bersatu members who are not co-founders and strategists, I just want to ask, when will normal members at the division level leave?

ALSO READ: Rais Hussin exits Bersatu

“Don’t run en masse at night when you are defeated in the general election. It will be too late then,” he said in a Facebook posting on Monday (Oct 10).

Rais, a former Bersatu co-founder, sent in his resignation on Oct 6 saying that he had not been active in the party following a heart procedure in 2020.

Without mincing his words, Ahmad Zahid asked if Rais left Bersatu because of a lack of confidence in the Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin-led party, and questioned why his departure was so close to the anticipated 15th General Election.

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“The departure of Bersatu's strategist and co-founder was a big slap to the party.

“Surely there are major factors that led to his resignation, especially when the general election is so close.

“One interpretation is that there is a lack of confidence in Bersatu that is expected to lose and cannot be saved, due to the actions of its leaders who do not have a strong grassroots, a weak machinery... leaders who only prioritise positions with no clear struggles,” he added.

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Ahmad Zahid also said that Rais, as a strategist, was able to read current political sentiment.

“If the party (Bersatu) is still relevant and has a clear future, the struggles will be continued together with the party,” he added.