PD Bersatu division call for leadership power transition

The Star

7 hours ago

PORT DICKSON: The Port Dickson Bersatu division has unanimously passed a motion calling for a leadership power transition to allow the party to be more proactive in fighting for issues affecting the people.
The motion, filed by the Kg Bagan Pinang branch during the division's annual general meeting on Sunday (July 6), proposed that a power transition plan be put in place to allow deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin be given the powers of the president to enable him to carry out his duties as Opposition leader more effectively.
In a Facebook post, Port Dickson Bersatu deputy chief Akkil Aizat Othman said the division felt the time was apt to have a succession plan.
"At the same time, we are not suggesting to sideline the president (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin).
"Muhyiddin can be made adviser where he will be able to lead us to Putrajaya (to win the next general elections)," he said in a Facebook post.
Akkil Aizat expressed hope that the motion could be debated or discussed by the party leadership.
"The younger members feel that Perikatan Nasional and Bersatu need to put in more effort to deal with people-related issues.
"The current government has been grappling with such issues but unfortunately, we, the Opposition, have not been able to take advantage of this or to deal with these efficiently," he said.
Drawing an analogy from a badminton match, Akkil Aizat said the Opposition must smash the shuttlecock if its opponent lifts it high and earn the point rather than give it away.
He said Muhyiddin has served exceptionally as president and this was evident when he was premier during the Covid-19 pandemic.
"He had administered the government well till we were able to come out of the pandemic.
"But in recent times, we have noticed a glaring weakness on the part of the leadership to deal with issues affecting the rakyat," he said, adding that the party needed to convince voters that it was the right choice to lead.
This, Badrul Hisham said, was important as the party had not been aggressive in championing the people's issues despite the so-called failures of the government.
He said the power transition plan has to be put in place now, where the deputy president is given an important role in the day-to-day running of operations and to represent it in talks with other leaders.
In another post, division chief Badrul Hisham Shaharin said the division had unanimously approved the motion for a power transition plan and additional powers for the main leadership so that Bersatu could be more aggressive and pro-active in fighting for the people's issues.