SHAH ALAM – The internal conflict within Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) has intensified as its leadership crisis at the national level begins to affect the party’s state representatives in Selangor.
Selangor PKR Information Chief, Saifuddin Shafi Muhammad, has called on all Bersatu state assemblymen (ADUNs) in Selangor to clearly state where their loyalty lies with party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin or secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin.
He said the recent move by a majority of Bersatu Members of Parliament to align with Hamzah indicates a serious internal shift that could reshape the party’s direction ahead of the next general election.
“When 16 Bersatu MPs, excluding Hamzah, Wan Ahmad Fayhsal and Wan Saiful, have already shown support for Hamzah, it’s no longer speculation. Muhyiddin’s position is clearly being challenged,” he said in statement.
Saifuddin said this development marks a moral victory for Hamzah’s faction, following earlier reports that 120 Bersatu division chiefs had also backed him, compared to only 82 who remained with Muhyiddin.
He said it is now crucial for Bersatu assemblymen in Selangor particularly Dr. Afif Bahardin and Muhammad Hilman Idham, both seen as close allies of Datuk Seri Azmin Ali to clarify their position.
“Are they still supporting Muhyiddin or are they shifting to Hamzah’s camp? Their constituents deserve to know where they stand so party machinery in each constituency can move with clear direction,” he said.
Saifuddin also questioned the stance of the remaining eight Bersatu assemblymen after Datuk Rashid Asari was expelled from the party for supporting the state administration led by Dato Seri Amirudin Shari.
He added that if Hamzah succeeds in taking over the party leadership before the 16th General Election (GE16), the decision on candidates will ultimately rest with him.
“If Hamzah becomes the new president before GE16, the candidate endorsement letters will be signed by him. That’s a political reality every Bersatu assemblyman must consider,” he said.
Saifuddin also suggested that PAS Selangor could take advantage of Bersatu’s internal rift to strengthen its influence in the state opposition bloc.
“Given PAS’s stability and unity, it may be time for Dato’ Dr. Halim Tamuri to play a bigger role in leading Perikatan Nasional (PN) Selangor,” he said.
He added that Bersatu’s ongoing internal dispute shows the party’s struggle to maintain direction and unity since the fall of the PN government.
“This confusion in Bersatu is not new. It only proves that the party is still trapped in its own leadership conflict,” he said. -MalayaDailyToday
