BERSATU’S supreme council has given party president Muhyiddin Yassin the mandate to seek cooperation with other parties to face the 15th general election (GE15). 

Party secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin said the decision was made yesterday during a council meeting chaired by Muhyiddin. 

He said the council decided that Muhyiddin, who chairs Bersatu’s political bureau, should explore election strategies with other political parties following a discussion on current political developments and the recent Johor elections.

Muhyiddin earlier this week admitted that he sought a meeting with Pejuang chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad over possible cooperation for GE15.

This followed the disclosure by Dr Mahathir and Pejuang president Mukhriz Mahathir that both rivals had met after the Johor polls last month.

Muhyiddin’s Perikatan Nasional (PN) won only three seats out of 56 in the March 12 Johor elections. 

Barisan Nasional (BN) bagged 40 seats to form the state government while Pakatan Harapan and PKR combined won 13 seats.

Muhyiddin has said his meeting with Dr Mahathir was part of an initiative to gather feedback from the leaders of other political parties and that no decision has been made on any form of cooperation.

He said other political parties, including Pejuang, were of the view that it is better for parties to combine forces to face BN and avoid multi-cornered clashes in GE15.

“My meeting with Dr Mahathir was part of this initiative,” the former prime minister and Pagoh MP said. 

It was also reported that he had met PKR president Anwar Ibrahim. 

Dr Mahathir, however, has said Pejuang will not support Muhyiddin to be prime minister again. – April 6, 2022.