BERSATU will not postpone its party elections scheduled for this year, said its chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Dr Mahathir, who is also prime minister, said the polls must be held quickly as the current leaders have been around since the party was formed in 2016.

He also said some of the leaders who were appointed earlier have failed to contribute to the party.

“We have decided it is important to have the party polls as the current administration is based on the leaders appointed earlier,” he said.

Dr Mahathir’s clarification comes following The Malaysian Insight’s report earlier today that Bersatu was considering postponing its inaugural elections to avoid the risk of deregistration.

The report, quoting sources, said a delay would ensure that all of the party branches are compliant with the Societies Act.

The Bersatu constitution is unique in that it does not contain a provision to postpone party polls.

It has been reported that a constitutional amendment to include such a provision could be tabled in the party’s first extraordinary general meeting (EGM) scheduled for July 20.

Dr Mahathir said amendments are necessary to correct shortcomings and enable the party to operate more smoothly.

Bersatu was set up in September 2016 by former Umno leaders Dr Mahathir and Muhyiddin Yassin with the sole aim of defeating their former party.

Circumstances at that time meant that Dr Mahathir and Muhyiddin, who is president, were appointed to their posts. – June 27, 2019.