BERSATU president Muhyiddin Yassin today announced the party will not contest in the Sarawak elections next month.

Muhyiddin, who is also Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman, said the party decided on this following a meeting with Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman Abang Johari Openg recently.

“Although we believe we can win in certain areas, Bersatu will not contest in Sarawak out of respect for the wishes of the GPS leadership. This move is to ensure that the parties already in Sarawak can secure a big win,” he told a press conference after opening the third delegates’ meeting of the Pagoh Bersatu division today.

Muhyiddin also said Bersatu chose to stay out of the contest because it believed GPS had the ability to win and that the pact had supported the PN-led federal government when he was prime minister.

However, he said Abang Johari indicated he may consider having friendly parties, like those in PN, fight alongside GPS in the 15th general election.

“The most important thing to emerge from the meeting (with Abang Johari) is GPS’ view on the need to retain existing seats,” he said.

The Election Commission has set December 6 for nomination, December 14 for early voting and December 18 for polling in the 12th Sarawak state elections, which will see 82 seats up for grabs.

On the resignation of Bersatu vice-president Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen as Malacca PN chairman and Malacca Bersatu chief, Muhyiddin said his successor would be named soon.

Muhyiddin, the MP for Pagoh, said it was honourable of Rafiq to step down and allow the state party leadership to be reshuffled after the Malacca state elections.

“It is clear he is giving way to a new leadership and this is an honourable move. I will decide on his replacement or any other changes in a few days’ time,” he said.

Yesterday, Rafiq announced that he was relinquishing his state posts with immediate effect to make way for a new leadership so that they would have enough time to prepare for GE15.

Asked on Umno’s proposal for GE15 to be expedited, Muhyiddin said he had requested that Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob hold discussions to determine a suitable time to hold the election.

“I have informed the prime minister to hold discussions to determine the suitable time, maybe at the prime minister’s level, in accordance with the constitution, it will be raised with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.

“But I am sure consideration will be given (on) the situation and the cooperation forged among political parties under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to stabilise the political situation,” said Muhyiddin, who is also Pagoh state assemblyman.

On November 21, Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan, who is Rantau state assemblyman in Negeri Sembilan, said that it was appropriate for GE15 to be held soon. – Bernama, November 27, 2021.