THE Bersatu supreme council meeting on February 23 had left the decision on whether to leave Pakatan Harapan to chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad, according to a leaked audio recording of the meeting.

The raw recording has been circulating on social media and in chat groups. 

The recording has been posted as a video that includes explanatory notes and subtitles on the Facebook page of Bersatu.TV.

The leak appears to lend credence to Dr Mahathir’s assertion that Bersatu had gone against his decision not to quit PH.

In the clip, a voice that resembles Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin’s is heard saying that “the biggest question in our history” – whether to take Bersatu out of PH – will be left to Dr Mahathir.

“... out of PH moving to the coalition, but we will still be in the government. A government led by Bersatu. That is important.

“We can end today’s meeting and agree on this policy and then we will give the full mandate to Tun. 

“It is up to Tun’s wisdom. We don’t need to doubt his wisdom. He’s been a prime minister for so long, we have to respect Tun

“So we have to do whatever he tells us,” Muhyiddin’s voice is heard saying.

Other voices are also heard saying “Setuju!” (Agreed!).

The video continues with text stating that after the meeting, which was held at 2pm, Muhyiddin and all Bersatu MPs, minus Dr Mahathir and Mukhriz Mahathir, went to the Sheraton Hotel in Petaling Jaya that night.

The text in the video states that Dr Mahathir resigned the next day as party chairman and prime minister out of disappointment, and that Muhyiddin took advantage of this by announcing Bersatu’s withdrawal from PH.

In his announcement, Muhyiddin states that the decision was made on February 23, which the video points out is a lie.

Dr Mahathir two days ago said he quit as Bersatu chairman and prime minister because his party defied his instruction not to leave PH.

His resignation triggered the collapse of the PH federal government, and was followed by defections from some PKR MPs and a race between him and Muhyiddin to get the support of to become prime minister.

Muhyiddin was sworn in as prime minister on March 1 after the Yang di-Pertuan Agong was satisfied that he had the majority support.

Muhyiddin’s Perikatan Nasional government comprises Barisan Nasional, PAS and Gabungan Parti Sarawak, most of the Bersatu MPs and a dissident faction in PKR led by Mohamed Azmin Ali.

Dr Mahathir and Mukhriz are still with Bersatu and the former is still its chairman, but there is speculation that they will be sacked ahead of party elections to be held in the coming months. 

Analysts have pointed out how this has put Muhyiddin in a difficult spot as the party is split. – May 13, 2020.