BERSATU will hold its second annual congress at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre between December 28 and 30, said party president Muhyiddin Yassin. 

“The  Women and Youth wings’ meetings will be opened by me on the evening of 28 followed by their delegates’ meetings on the 29th,” said Muhyiddin at the party’s headquarters in Petaling Jaya today. 

The main body’s meeting will be officiated by party chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad on the 29th night followed by the delegates’ meeting on the 30th, he said. 

“This is the first party AGM for Bersatu after the general election,” said Muhyiddin, who is also the home minister. 

The second Bersatu congress will see some 1,200 delegates from the Women and Youth wings, while 1,600 delegates will come from the main body involving 135 divisions. 

“There will be a winding-up debate by all the party’s leaders on December 30,” said Muhyiddin.

He said there that will only by one motion, which will be carried by a Johor delegate, to debate the chairman’s policy speech.

Some of the key issues to be discussed include how the party will handle key policies regarding the position of Malays, the monarchy, national language and how to uphold the federal constitution.

“We don’t want Malaysians to have any doubts about our commitment to uphold the constitution,” said Muhyiddin.

Muhyiddin said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had asked Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng to relook at Budget 2019 to see how it can address some of the concerns affecting rural Malaysians in the agriculture industry.

He said that although Bersatu is a race-based party, it was not “racist”.

“We recognise that our general election victory was due to strong support from the Chinese and Indian voters and a part of Malays that want change. We recognise this.

“But we also don’t want Malays to feel that they have been left behind,” said Muhyiddin. 

He said the party will continue to champion Malay issues.

“While we do this, we must also be fair to other races,” he added. – December 11, 2018.