IS it a fait accompli that Bersatu’s Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will be prime minister if Perikatan Nasional wins Putrajaya at the next general election?
Following what some would call an attempted coup, does this mean the anti-Muhyiddin forces lost?
“The important thing is that it is now registered in the public’s mind that Muhyiddin does not have 100% support from his own party. He is staying in power by using force and authority. All sorts of tricks were played,” said a Bersatu leader who insisted on remaining anonymous, fearing disciplinary action.
“All sorts of questions are being raised about the veracity of the claim that the motion was passed unanimously. This is the talk among party leaders and division leaders.”
Bersatu information chief Datuk Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz noted that the decision at the general assembly was reached unanimously. He stated that after deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin supported Muhyiddin, that was supposed to be the assumption, that the coup had failed.
For the past several months, the talk was there were forces in Bersatu that wanted Muhyiddin to step down – my Bersatu source spins it better, saying they want to “elevate” Muhyiddin’s position in the party so he wouldn’t be president and hence wouldn’t be the PM candidate. However, the optics changed with the masterful stage management of the meeting that my source credits to party secretary-general Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.
Hamzah confirmed his loyalty to Muhyiddin: “I am your number one supporter, I am your man,” Hamzah told Muhyiddin at the AGM.
The public probably see Hamzah’s declaration as a sign that the Muhyiddin coup has failed.
I asked my Bersatu source whether what we saw is what we will get, that Hamzah is now supporting Muhyiddin.
“Well, it doesn’t matter what Hamzah feels. What’s important is the decision made by members and grassroots party leaders, and the grassroots party leaders are still saying that Muhyiddin should step down,” he said.
The source stated that about 120 division leaders signed a statutory declaration (the politically infamous SD) to indicate their desire for a succession plan.
“They signed with the intention that Muhyiddin will become party advisor or party chairman so he can be elevated. We need the party to build the perception among the public that Bersatu is being galvanised with new ideas and a new vision,” he said.
The source explained that it is about a strategy to win the general elections and not about pushing Muhyiddin down. “It is about pushing him upwards or sideways temporarily,” he said.
Tun Faisal clarified that some quarters have denied that the SD was intended to pressure Muhyiddin to step down.
“The SD has no place and provision in Bersatu’s Constitution. Whatever the case, the general assembly’s decisions are the highest in the party, overriding any other platform or document, including the SD. So we abide by the majority decision made during the general assembly,” he said.
However, the Bersatu source said if Tun Faisal says that SDs do not have a place in the party’s Constitution, why did the forces in Muhyiddin’s corner arrange a counter SD to support the president?
“But more importantly, this move is about persuading Muhyiddin to resign from the presidency and take up a father figure role. In our Constitution, if the president resigns voluntarily, then the deputy automatically takes over,” he said.
“It is a civilised process, but it has been sabotaged by falsely framing it as a coup and telling the world about it.”
The source claimed that forces in the party that want Muhyiddin to remain as president went into overdrive over the SD and labelled it a betrayal and treason. He named a media adviser to Muhyiddin as one of those who gave the Bersatu president bad advice, which stirred the hornet’s nest.
“The reality is the party is split, even worse than before. Before this, there was no real split. Everybody was talking about how we could win the election together and how we could make sure that Muhyiddin steps aside without embarrassing him,” he said.
Tun Faisal conceded that the party would be divided if its members don’t accept the results of the 2024 party elections and the decisions made at the 2024 and 2025 general assemblies.
“If everyone can adhere to the decisions made through the party’s platform, namely the general assembly, and abide by the party’s Constitution and rules, then harmony can be maintained.
“After the party elections, the focus should rightly be on strengthening the party and making the best preparations for GE16,” he said, referring to the country’s 16th general elections.
Typically in Malaysian politics, it is challenging to unseat a sitting president, so I inquired about the further actions of the anti-Muhyiddin forces.
“It is very unfortunate to see that Muhyiddin has become another Zahid Hamidi,” the source said, referring to Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
“They are there not because of support. Two weeks ago, Muhyiddin was our president because we loved him. But now, after the AGM, Muhyiddin remains in that seat simply because he’s using all the rules and regulations to protect himself.”
And what if the SD fails to persuade Muhyiddin to hand over the Bersatu presidency to Hamzah?
“If he refuses to resign, we don’t have any options. We just have to take the risk with him. It’s sad that even within the party, people are beginning to compare Muhyiddin with Zahid Hamidi,” he said.
It looks like it is not yet a fait accompli that Turun Muhyiddin (step down Muhyiddin) has failed. Which means neither is it a fait accompli that Muhyiddin will be the PM if the Opposition wins GE16.
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