MUHAMMAD Suhaimi Yahya has been removed as Bersatu’s organising secretary just hours after sending out membership termination letters to Dr Mahathir Mohamad and four others.

A letter to relieve Suhaimi of his duties was issued by Bersatu secretary-general Marzuki Yahya, who is aligned to Dr Mahathir.

Marzuki’s position as the secretary-general itself is in dispute after he was removed by party president Muhyiddin Yassin and replaced by Hamzah Zainuddin in late March.

Dr Mahathir’s faction disputed Marzuki’s removal and brought the matter before the Registrar of Societies.

Marzuki said in the letter Suhaimi had breached work ethics and party rules by sending out termination letters to Dr Mahathir, deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir; Kubang Pasu MP Amiruddin Hamzah; youth chief and Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman; and Simpang Renggam MP Maszlee Malik.

Marzuki said the breach occurred after Suhaimi bypassed the party secretary-general to issue the letters to Dr Mahathir and the four others.

Article 8.11 of the party constitution states that all matters regarding party membership falls under the secretary-general’s jurisdiction, and articles 16.6.3 and 16.6.5 list the administration of party headquarters and matters on the management of party membership and registration of members as being part of the secretary-general’s duties.

Earlier yesterday, Suhaimi’s letters to the five stated that their party membership ceased with immediate effect because of their decision to sit in the federal opposition bloc during the May 18 Dewan Rakyat proceedings.

The five disputed the removal, saying that it was unlawful and had no basis in the party’s constitution. – May 29, 2020.