Bersatu pioneer leader Muhammad Faiz Na’aman quits party

PETALING JAYA: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) supreme council member Muhammad Faiz Na’aman has resigned with immediate effect, citing discontent with the party's direction in the coming polls.

"It is with a heavy heart that I am forced to come to such a big decision in view that I was among the first 100 members and youths that joined Bersatu in 2016," he said in a statement on Monday (Aug 7).

Muhammad Faiz then said that the party has continued to ignore the voices of the grassroots, particularly with the selection of candidates for the six state elections.

He said that this was the case with regards to the state elections in Melaka and Johor, where Bersatu suffered crushing defeats.

"This history is likely to repeat itself in the six state elections, especially for Bersatu seats in the Selangor state polls," he said.

He cited an incident where candidates who were aligned with a "cartel" within the party and parachute candidates led to a revolt among members in Selangor.

Faiz also claimed that the party was slow to act against those who betrayed the party in the last general election, claiming that even some "traitors" were now candidates for the party.

“This has led to a revolt in nine Selangor Bersatu divisions. There was even an incident where a Perikatan Nasional flag was set on fire as a sign of protest by the grassroots,” he said.