How party politics are run indicative how Malaysia will be governed if they come into power? BERSATU, Mahathir, Muhyiddin?

How a political party functions indicative of how Malaysia will be governed if this party comes into power? Are they democratic - or only democratic so far as elections are concerned, thereafter they transform into a 'dictatorship of the President' or 'dictatorship of the central leadership'? Do they accept differences or do they just 'oust' those not 'loyal' of the existing leader? Do they practice 'fair trial' - or do they simply 'kick out' members without even a right to be heard?

Mahathir, Muhyiddin and BERSATU - the point to note is that the ultimate power in a society(also a political party) rests with the entire membership - It is they that decide who will be the leaders, and what the society does or not do. 

When it comes to termination of membership too, the ultimate decision is again with the membership > that is why even after any member has been terminated after a disciplinary proceedings and the current elected leadership, there is the right to appeal that termination decision to the membership, and the decision will be made at the General Meeting of members usually.

BERSATU has yet to have their first election of leaders by its membership - so, all their existing leaders are really not yet democratically elected - for when one applies for registration of any society, one is required to name a certain number of people who will be the 'interim' office bearers or leaders - I believe that the minimum is 7 > So, in the case of BERSATU > Muhyiddin, Mahathir, Mukriz, M...

Then, these leaders may have chosen and appointed others into the central executive leadership positions, even the State, Division and Branch leaders > well, all these 'leaders' really do not actually have the real full mandate of the membership - which only happens after the first party elections at the Branch, Division, State and Federal level - only, thereafter can they claim legitimate support of the membership...

BERSATU elections started early this year...and is ongoing. The elections of the Chairman, President and Central leadership has not yet been completed...For the central leadership, they only have had the nominations...

After nominations, Dr Mahathir was uncontested for the post of Chairman > hence, he is (or will remain Chairman) ....

Muhyiddin, however finds himself in a contest with 2 others for the Presidency of the party, - so, who will be elected BERSATU Party President will depend on how the members vote.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad won uncontested for the chairman post, said the party’s election committee chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar yesterday.

Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who is defending his post in the party’s inaugural election next month, will be challenged by two other candidates including his deputy Datuk Seri Mukhriz Tun Mahathir....Syed Hamid said another candidate for the presidency is Cheras Bersatu deputy chief Mohd Faiz Azlee Sham.

In government, when Elections are happening, which includes the period from nominations to elections, we only have a CARETAKER Prime Minister and Cabinet until the end of elections...A caretaker cabinet has diminished powers - they just look after the government until the new PM and Cabinet comes into being.

Well, BERSATU is at the stage at the moment > can or should Muhyiddin and 'interim' the Central leadership now use their powers to even kick out members or even 'other candidates' contesting in the BERSATU Elections? OR will they act DEMOCRATICALLY and let the membership decide?

Muhyiddin finds himself being challenged by Mukriz for the position of President of BERSATU - should he let the members decide who they want? Or should he now use his power and influence in the BERSATU's existing 'undemocratically elected' central leadership, and simply get rid of his challenger? 

If Mukriz, or others in the party who may vote for Mukriz to be President are now simply 'kicked-out' of BERSATU, Muhyiddin will then automatically be the next President of BERSATU - but he will not be able to say that this is what BERSATU members wanted...

Mahathir sits at a most advantageous position - as he is and/or will be Chairman of BERSATU uncontested - for he faces no challengers.

So, kicking the legitimate upcoming Chairman of BERSATU out of the party will also be unacceptable and would be a anti-democratic and against the will of the general membership of BERSATU. After all, anyone not happy with Mahathir continuing to be Chairman could have challenged Mahathir for the position?

So, will Muhyiddin work towards 'terminating the membership of Mukriz' - making sure his challenger for the post of PRESIDENT is no more, which may also be seen a violation of the right of the membership of BERSATU to democratically chose their leaders?

Malaysians need to monitor political parties and see how they behave - because these people are the ones who want to be MPs and later form the government. If they are undemocratic or authoritarian or 'dictatorial' in their behavior in their own party, the RISK is high that they will behave the same when they come into power in government? If they do not practice rule of law or justice in their own political party, would the also do the same when they come into power in government?

As such, there is also much concern about PKR's action of termination of so many of its members recently - did they even give them a right to be heard or a fair hearing? Was the rule of law followed? We read of decision of the

PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil said the four were among 285 members suspended, while adding that the party also expelled 348 other members based on decisions reached during council meetings held on March 21 and April 26.

Four top PKR leaders have been suspended by the party's’ central leadership council following recommendations from the party’s disciplinary board.

Allegedly, the suspensions and the expulsions of members were done '...following recommendations from the party's disciplinary board...' > but was there a show cause letter, followed by a 'disciplinary hearing' where the member accused will be given a right to be heard. [I did not hear about 348 disciplinary hearings before the 348 PKR members were expelled].

 

What if some PKR members were supporters of Azmin before, and did not want Anwar to be party President? Did they follow Azmin and leave the party - no, they did not - is that already indicative of the fact that they still believed in PKR, and wanted to remain as PKR members, and that they did not support Azmin's or others move to leave PKR. They may be waiting to even contest PKR elections in the future... People with different opinions and positions from existing leaders exist in all societies and countries - and democracy demands that their positions be respected > wrong for any political party to 'oust' members that are not in line with current leadership. Anwar was a victim too when he was 'kicked out' of UMNO, but is not what PKR doing a 'justification' of what UMNO did to Anwar before? 

If a member opposes the President or leadership of the party, should he/she be terminated? In any society and/or party, there are people of different views and opinions, that is the REALITY of any community and/or country - in a democratic society, the majority decides on the leadership and/or even the position/direction of the society?  

We need leaders with values and principles, who understand and practice democratic principles and the rule of law > I worry about the future of Malaysia, looking at what is happening in some political parties - WILL I vote for them who behave in such a manner to be our government...?

Bersatu election: Mukhriz to take on Muhyiddin for president post

Posted on March 17, 2020, Tuesday at 1:12 AM Nation, News

Muhyiddin (centre) chairs the first meeting of the Economic Action Council (EAC) at the Prime Minister’s Office. — Bernama photo

PETALING JAYA: Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who is defending his post in the party’s inaugural election next month, will be challenged by two other candidates including his deputy Datuk Seri Mukhriz Tun Mahathir.

Meanwhile, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad won uncontested for the chairman post, said the party’s election committee chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar yesterday.

Syed Hamid said another candidate for the presidency is Cheras Bersatu deputy chief Mohd Faiz Azlee Sham.

He said for the deputy president post, it would see a three-corner fight involving the party secretary-general Datuk Marzuki Yahya, Perak Bersatu chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu and Selangor Armada deputy chief Anas Akashah Nazri. Speaking at a news conference here, Syed Hamid said the contesting candidates were given between 10am to 3pm yesterday to submit their nomination papers.

“Everything went well. The nomination papers of all contestants have been received,” said Syed Hamid at the end of the nomination registration yesterday.

A total of 15 people vying for three vice-president seats, among them are incumbent Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman, Information chief who is also Minister of Education Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin,  Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Special Functions) Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof and Melaka Exco Datuk Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen.

For Armada chief, Syed Hamid said it would be a three-corner fight between incumbent Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, Armada Exco Muhammad Muzzammil Ismail and Armada International Relations Bureau chairman Senator Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal who is also Youth and Sports deputy minister.

Meanwhile, four candidates are eyeing the Srikandi chief post including incumbent Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun who is being challenged by Information deputy chief Izza Ismail, Kepala Batas Bersatu chief Azlina Mehtab Mohd Ishaq and Kuala Langat Srikandi chief Zuhuraina Makmur.  Syed Hamid also reminded candidates not to use their positions and money to win votes.

“If the disciplinary board receives concrete evidence of vote-buying, the person could lose his or her post,” he said, adding that they could also be suspended or sacked from the party.

Meanwhile, Syed Hamid said all branch and division meetings which also involve the election for the party’s top posts could be postponed following a directive from the Registrar of Societies that all gatherings involving a large crowd to be put on hold.

“The party leadership will decide on that,” he said.

It was previously reported that Bersatu division meetings were to be held simultaneously nationwide on April 18 while Armada dan Srikandi division meetings were scheduled for April 11 where they would choose their national-level leaders. — Bernama, Borneo Post, 17/3/2020

'Muhyiddin may be the only founder left if Bersatu proceeds with sackings'

Published 10 May 2020, 6:30 pm

Modified 10 May 2020, 6:30 pm

If the Bersatu supreme council moves to sack party chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad and deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir, then Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin may be the only founding member left in the party.

Therefore, Bersatu supreme council member Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidah Sanusi said he hoped that speculation of action against the two leaders at a scheduled supreme council meeting tomorrow is untrue.

"I hope the supreme council will discuss how to close ranks and ensure Bersatu plays an important role in the fight against Covid-19.

"I also pray that talk that the intention of the meeting tomorrow is to sack Mahathir and Mukhriz based on the statement that had been made by Bersatu information chief Mohd Radzi Md Jidin is untrue.

"I fear that if the unfortunate happens, Muhyiddin will be the only Bersatu founder left in the party," he said in a statement.

At present, only five out of the seven Bersatu members are still in the party.

They are Mahathir, Muhyiddin, Mukhriz, Akhramsyah and Bersatu Youth chief Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman. Both Akhramsyah and Syed Saddiq are aligned to Mahathir and his son.

The other two founders - Anina Saadudin and Kamarulazman Habibur Rahman - had left the party shortly after the creation.

Earlier today, Malaysiakini reported that the Bersatu supreme council meeting will convene tomorrow but Mahathir and Mukhriz were not invited.

This news portal also reported that a separate meeting was held among the supreme council members aligned to Muhyiddin to set the agenda for tomorrow's meeting which may include a decision on Mahathir and Mukhriz's position.

This comes after Mahathir and Mukhriz publicly criticised Muhyiddin for taking Bersatu out of Harapan and forming a new Perikatan Nasional (PN) government with Umno, PAS, GPS and other minor parties.

Akhramsyah, in his statement, said he was aware of the meeting yesterday but was not invited. However, he is invited to the meeting tomorrow.

He also criticised Radzi, who yesterday maintained that Mahathir was not the Bersatu chairperson and claimed the Langkawi MP was initially on board with the plan to quit Pakatan Harapan and form PN.

Akhramsyah took issue with Radzi's claim that the decision to quit Harapan was not hasty and was in the planning for months and had sought consent from various levels of the party.

Akhramsyah (photo) said Radzi should not drag other leaders into the conspiracy if he was involved in it.

"As a supreme council member, I strongly deny that there had been major efforts for months at every level of the party for Bersatu to betray Harapan.

"What is the logic then for us to campaign together in the Tanjung Piai and Kimanis by-elections with Harapan?

"I still remembered how the information chief personally praised DAP's efforts in the Tanjung Piai by-election during the supreme council meeting," he said.

Akhramsyah acknowledged that there were plans to defend Mahathir's position as the prime minister at the time but not to the extend of betraying Harapan.

"If it is true that there were leaders who conspired to betray Harapan unprovoked, it is without honour and goes against the party's principles," he said.

Akhramsyah maintained that Mahathir was consistently against leaving Harapan despite facing eight hours of pestering to give in during a series of meetings on Feb 23.

He said after Mahathir refused to give in during the Bersatu supreme council meeting on that day, the party heads that would go on to form PN went to Mahathir's house to convince him that evening, but to no avail.

He added that if Mahathir was on board with the plan, he would not have filed a no-confidence motion against Muhyiddin, who now leads the PN government after Mahathir refused to do so. - Malaysiakini, 10/5/2020

Four PKR leaders including women's chief suspended, 348 others expelled

Monday, 04 May 2020 01:57 PM MYT

BY KENNETH TEE

PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil said the four were among 285 members suspended, while adding that the party also expelled 348 other members based on decisions reached during council meetings held on March 21 and April 26. — Picture by Miera Zulyana

KUALA LUMPUR, May 4 — Four top PKR leaders have been suspended by the party's’ central leadership council following recommendations from the party’s disciplinary board.

PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil said the four were among 285 members suspended, while adding that the party also expelled 348 other members based on decisions reached during council meetings held on March 21 and April 26.

The four suspended leaders are PKR Women’s chief Haniza Mohamed Talha, former Youth deputy chief Dr Afif Bahardin, central leadership council member Mohd Radzlan Jalaludin and Sabah Women's chief Rahimah Majid.

“The central leadership council has also temporarily suspended the membership of 285 members in accordance with clause 41.6 of the party's constitution.

“The disciplinary board is examining every complaint and evidence against them and will recommend further action to the disciplinary council,” Fahmi said in a statement here.

Meanwhile among the members expelled include party Youth vice-chief Mohd Nazree Mohd Yunus, Women's Information chief Syarul Ema Rena Abu Samah also known as “Ratu Naga”, Rembia assemblyman Muhammad Jailani Khamis, Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How and Vernon Albert Kedit.

Fahmi also said former Batu MP Tian Chua was among five members slapped with show-cause letters.

“PKR will continue the process of restoring the party following the episode of betrayal which brought upon the downfall of a government legitimately elected through the people’s mandate.

“PKR believes that after this, the party will be stronger in its reformasi agenda,” the Lembah Pantai MP said.

The party initiated a disciplinary probe against those known to be aligned with former party deputy Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali after he triggered the “Sheraton Move” in late February, which led to the downfall of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition government.

Azmin eventually quit the party to join forces with Bersatu, Umno and PAS to form Perikatan Nasional, which form the new government after PH. - Malay Mail, 4/5/2020