Malaysia’s United Indigenous Party (Bersatu) yesterday ousted former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad along with his son and three others after the group showed support for the opposition while in Parliament on May 18.
Mahathir, 94, who was the chairman of the political party he co-founded, had led the group to sit among the oppositions while Parliament was in session. The other members ousted from the party are his son Mukhriz Mahathir, who was deputy president, Kubang Pasu MP Amiruddin Hamzah, Simpang Renggam MP Maszlee Malik and youth chief Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman.
Bersatu executive secretary Muhammad Suhaimi Yahya said the decision to revoke their party membership was in line with the party rules, under the Clause 10.2.2 and 10.2.3 of the political party’s constitution.
“According to the notice dated May 15, 2020, YB Tun (Dr Mahathir) has informed your seating in parliament in the block that did not support the PN government led by YAB Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin cum President/Acting Chairman of Bersatu,” the letter read. “In the May 18 Parliamentary sitting, YB Tun had also joined and sat at the Opposition Block.”
The letter added: “As of this, it is informed that according to Clause 10.2.2 and 10.2.3 of the Party Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) Constitution, YB Tun’s membership is revoked immediately.”
The same letter was sent to the four others.
The latest political episode comes three months after the Pakatan Harapan government, comprising parties including Bersatu, the People’s Justice Party, and the Democratic Action Party, collapsed in February.
Bersatu left the now opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan to join hands with members from Barisan Nasional, Malaysia’s Islamic party (PAS), and the Sarawak Parties Coalition, to form the now ruling Perikatan coalition under Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
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