DR MAHATHIR Mohamad today said he is still a Bersatu member and remains party chairman.

Speaking to the press at Bersatu’s headquarters in Petaling Jaya, Dr Mahathir said that organising secretary Muhammad Suhaimi Yahya had no power to issue a letter to “sack” him and four other members of the party.

“I came to the office today to see Suhaimi to seek some clarification but I was told he can’t meet me. 

“Later I was told that he can meet me but with Hamzah Zainuddin. However, both suddenly didn’t show up. I am disappointed. I want to know whether I am still a member of Bersatu,” said Dr Mahathir.

Hamzah is the party secretary-general appointed by president Muhyiddin Yassin’s faction, to which Suhaimi is also aligned with.

Yesterday Suhaimi sent 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, to state they have automatically lost their party membership for sitting in the federal opposition bloc during the May 18 Dewan Rakyat proceedings.

Dr Mahathir today said Suhaimi had exceeded the powers conferred on him as organising secretary. 

“Suhaimi acted beyond his powers and therefore, he has been sacked from his position and Bersatu,” he added.

The former prime minister said Suhaimi has been replaced by Kelantan Bersatu’s deputy chairman Sazmi Miah.

“Marzuki Yahya is still the secretary-general and we have replaced Suhaimi with Sazmi from Kelantan,” Dr Mahathir said.

After news of the letter became public yesterday, the five disputed the action, saying it was unlawful and had no basis in the party’s constitution. 

Marzuki then removed Suhaimi hours after he sent out the letters to the five.

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

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

Dr Mahathir has also referred their “sacking” to the RoS through a letter sent by his lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri. – May 29, 2020.