BERSATU co-founder Rais Hussin Mohamed Ariff has left the party he helped establish in 2015.

The former party supreme council member said he submitted his resignation yesterday, adding that he had been inactive as a party member since 2020.

He added that after undergoing a heart procedure, he was focused on developing and nurturing independent think tank EMIR Research, which is focused on strategic policy recommendation based on rigorous research. 

“Although I am not a member of Bersatu, I will still actively pursue my struggle for a better Malaysia based on five core principles – reforms, justice, inclusivity, progressiveness, and wasatiyyah (a fairly balanced approach),” he said in a statement.

Rais said that he had many fond memories with the party, from its pre-infancy. 

“The challenges then were immense, but together we made the impossible possible, against all odds. 

“Throughout my active role in the party, I never shied away from speaking the brutal truth to the powers that be, more often or not at my personal cost. 

“Be that as may, I highly cherish the various responsibilities given to me in the party and then in the Pakatan Harapan coalition.”

He said being part of Bersatu since 2015 has been an educational and experiential journey.

“I have learned much from this political voyage, good and bad, that will surely help guide and shape me moving forward.”

Rais also thanked former Bersatu chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad, for entrusting him with many key responsibilities to build the party, and current party president Muhyiddin Yassin, whom he said understands him better than anyone else in the party. – October 7, 2022.