HANAFI Md Taib spent money, time and energy to build Bersatu after the idea was announced at his house in Pagoh, Johor, four years ago.

Now that the party is breaking apart despite being in control of the federal government, it makes the 50-year-old’s heart ache as he knows that it will be tough to recover from this crisis.

“Our foundation at the grassroots level is still not solid. Our members are not that many. And yet, we want to break up even more. How are we going to recover?” the founding member of the Pagoh Bersatu division told The Malaysian Insight.

“People like me are in a dilemma. Who should we follow? I have spent money, energy and time building this party. We are not even over our first election and we are already breaking up.”

Whether Bersatu will survive as a viable political outfit will be tested in the coming days after its iconic former chairman, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, announced that he will form a rival party.

As of yesterday, Dr Mahathir’s announcement has seen two supreme council members and one assemblyman resign from Bersatu.

The announcement also prompted a slew of Facebook posts showing party members purportedly cutting their membership cards in solidarity with Dr Mahathir.

Bersatu grassroots leaders said the size of the exodus will be seen in the days to come as more and more activists and members announce their intention of quitting to join Dr Mahathir.

A large-scale departure could cripple the party’s ability to hold simultaneous division elections on August 22, as it would reduce the quorum needed in each division.

The size of the exodus is hard to predict as of now, as those loyal to either of the feuding leaders – Dr Mahathir and president Muhyiddin Yassin – are claiming their faction is bigger.

Hanafi said the party is split into three: Dr Mahathir backers, Muhyiddin’s camp and those caught in the middle, like him.  

“This is happening because of the people surrounding Tun (Dr Mahathir) and Tan Sri (Muhyiddin). They don’t have the party’s best interests at heart.”

Losers and the president’s men

On Friday, Dr Mahathir said he will form a new party that will uphold Bersatu’s original values of ending corruption.

The name and logo of the party have yet to be announced.

This follows Dr Mahathir’s failed attempt to take back control of Bersatu from Muhyiddin in the run-up to the party polls and after the latter caused the downfall of the Pakatan Harapan government in late February.

Muhyiddin took Bersatu, along with 30 of its MPs, out of PH to form Perikatan Nasional with Umno, PAS and Gabungan Parti Sarawak.

The Malaysian Insight interviewed members of each camp, and both sides claim to have the bigger number.

“Not that many people will join Tun (Dr Mahathir). The majority, between 80% and 90%, are solidly behind Tan Sri (Muhyiddin),” said Uzzair Ismail, a Johor grassroots leader.

“Tun is a statesman and a legend. We still respect him. Those who will join him are those who lost in the party elections. They are looking for a new political platform.”

Perak leader Mohd Faizul Mohamed Ismail does not doubt the Facebook posts about members cancelling their Bersatu membership and announcing their intention to leave.

“But there are just as many posts by members who are excited and busy preparing for the division assemblies throughout the country later in the month.

“Going by these posts, I believe there will be more who will stay with us,” said the Teluk Intan division youth chief, adding that he received about 400 applications to join the party this month.

Leaders who support Dr Mahathir refuted claims that they are election losers, pointing out that those who are leaving retained their posts.

Jeram rep Shaid Rosli was Kuala Selangor division chief when he announced his resignation yesterday.

“Many of the other division chiefs are loyal to Tan Sri (Muhyiddin), while the rank and file at the branch level support Tun (Dr Mahathir).

“These are the members who joined in 2016 because of Tun, and the educated ones who joined to fight Barisan Nasional (in the 14th general election).”

He said they comprise 70% to 80% of a division’s members, adding that they will announce their plans soon.

Pokok Sena division vice-chief Ulya Aqamah Husamudin said division leaders’ loyalty to Muhyiddin stems from the fact that they were chosen by him at the pro-tem stage.

“The division chiefs, the state chiefs and the majority of the supreme council are all the president’s men. Tun (Dr Mahathir), as chairman, did not really get involved. So, it is no surprise that they are loyal to him (Muhyiddin).

“I expect a minimum of 50% of Bersatu’s members will leave the party. We’ll just have to wait and see in the coming weeks. There will be more announcements of resignations.” – August 9, 2020.