BERSATU has assigned its top leadership to coordinate the election campaign in Negri Sembilan and Selangor.

Bersatu supreme council member Mohd Rafiq Mohd Abdullah said the party is focusing on Negri Sembilan and Selangor as it will lead the two states if Perikatan Nasional (PN) succeeds in the polls.

Bersatu deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu is the coordinator in Negri Sembilan while the party vice-president Radzi Jidin will manage Selangor, he said.

“Their appointments will help to strengthen PN in the states.

“There were many views that were raised by members (on polls), so we think it is better for Bersatu to send its top representatives. This will calm the situation before the polls,” he said.

He also affirmed the decision to drop Eddin Syazlee Shith as the chairman of Negri Sembilan PN.

News of Eddin’s dismissal from the position went viral on social media last week.

Selangor PN is led by chairman Mohamed Azmin Ali, while Mohd Rashid As’ari is the chairman of Bersatu Selangor.

“Radzi will coordinate Selangor Bersatu with the help of Rashid.

“Perhaps after the polls, Eddin will be re-appointed state chairman,” Rafiq said.

The Malaysian Insight learnt that former Seberang Jaya assemblyman Dr Afif Bahardin was appointed Selangor PN secretary to replace Gombak assemblyman Muhammad Hilman Idham.

Rafiq said he was aware of the matter but did not know the reason for the changes.

He, however, did not rule out the possibility that it was part of their preparations for the polls.

“I was informed that Hilman was replaced by Afif, but I don’t know the reason behind it.

“Perhaps the PN secretary has a lot of work and needs commitment as Hilman wants to run in the polls.

Afif and Hilman joined the party after being dismissed from PKR after the Sheraton move, which saw the fall of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government after Bersatu left the coalition.

Last March, Afif was dropped as Seberang Jaya assemblyman, along with three other Bersatu assemblymen in Penang, in accordance with state laws.

The provision, among others, stipulates that an assemblyman must vacate their seat if they have been elected as a political party candidate, quits or is stripped of his membership from a political party or when he joins any other political party.

Afif was nominated to represent PN in the general election for the Shah Alam parliamentary seat, but lost. – Bernama, June 6, 2023.