Bersatu deputy minister mulls return to Pakatan

Updated 6 years ago · Published on 2 Jun 2020 12:00PM · 7 Comments

Deputy Works Minister Shahruddin Md Salleh says he is willing to return to Pakatan should there be a guarantee that his party, Bersatu, will thrive as part of the pact. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, June 2, 2020.

A BERSATU deputy minister has misgivings about his decision to join the Perikatan Nasional government, following the deepening crisis in his party.

Shahruddin Md Salleh is contemplating a return to Pakatan Harapan, the coalition he abandoned in February’s “Sheraton Move”.

“Say, for instance, that I need to resign as deputy works minister. I would do that in the name of strengthening Bersatu, so that I can focus full-time on Bersatu.

“Say, for instance, that I have to leave PN and return to PH, and there is a guarantee that Bersatu will be strong and continue to thrive there. I’d be willing to do that,” he said in a statement posted on the youth wing’s Facebook page today.

The Sheraton Move, orchestrated by Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, among others, led to the PH government’s fall.

Sri Gading MP Shahruddin, along with 30 other Bersatu lawmakers loyal to the president, helped form PN, now led by Muhyiddin as prime minister.

The other faction in Bersatu sides with Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is fighting to wrest control of the party he founded from Muhyiddin and return it to the PH fold.

Shahruddin also questioned which pact – PN or PH – would afford him a secure future as MP.

“Please tell me honestly. I am now Sri Gading MP. Will it be PN or PH that will, without debate, allow Bersatu to contest this parliamentary seat in the 15th general election?

“PN or PH? That is also the answer to a very important question. Is Bersatu safer in PN or PH?”

In the 2018 elections, Bersatu, as part of PH, contested Malay-dominated seats, including Sri Gading, against Barisan Nasional lynchpin Umno and PAS.

Now that it is in PN with the two Malay-Muslim parties, observers have asked whether Bersatu will be able to stand in the same seats, which are traditionally contested by Umno.

Umno and PAS, which are in the formal Muafakat Nasional alliance, have said they will support PN only till GE15, sparking speculation that they will challenge Bersatu in future polls.

Shahruddin, who was Bersatu’s first secretary-general, called into question PN’s status as an official coalition.

“As far as I can remember, PH is a formal body registered with and certified by the Registrar of Societies.

“To me, PN is just the name of an unofficial body of parliamentarians who support Muhyiddin as prime minister. PN is not an alliance of parties.” – June 2, 2020.

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Comments

  • At least there is one sensible Bersatu MP here that is waking up to all the shenanigans.

    Posted 6 years ago by Elyse Gim · Reply

  • Must always member, the mandate of the voters to PH to rule after GE14. Any ploy or betrayal will be in mistakenly punished by voters country wide. Opposition wants to rule, wait till GE15, if voters give u the mandate, go ahead and rule properly. As now, give back to PH, otherwise what's the point of having a GE. Don't even think of sideline the voters and do as u wish. We will punish all traitors regardless of your race and religion. A traitor is a traitor, traitors cannot be Malaysian leader. Thats it.

    Posted 6 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • The appointment of Otak Udang as MISC chairman is probably the last straw that broke the camel's back.
    Moo has run out of idea to keep those corrupt to the core warlords and he could only think of buying their support through the appointment to the position that sucks the tax payers hard earned money.

    Posted 6 years ago by Chee yee ng · Reply

    • I like your words
      "sucks the tax payers hard earned money"

      Posted 6 years ago by S Shaf · Reply

  • Not all Malaysian think alike, so lets have the election, I bet DAP will fall out miserably, only a fraction trust DAP as all the manifestos were just hearsay. Dont trust DAP anymore

    Posted 6 years ago by Ty Tiko · Reply

  • Mahadeen gomen loosing ground. So next frog season startings. Revese jumping frog. Katak tetap katak. Money and perk sensible frog. Knows which side the ed

    Posted 6 years ago by Thomas Samuel · Reply

    • Knows which side is the buttered side of the bread

      Posted 6 years ago by Thomas Samuel · Reply