Bersatu S’wak members launch ‘blackout’ movement in support of Tun M
KUCHING: A group of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) members in Sarawak on Saturday launched a new movement in support of former party chairman and founder Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Called Blackout Bersatu Sarawak, its chairman Didi Udin said the movement is a continuation of a national grassroots movement which began last month on social media, whereby supporters posted a monochrome version of the party’s logo as a symbolic act of protest.
“The launch of Blackout Bersatu Sarawak was held at Merdeka Palace Hotel and was attended by representatives from all over Sarawak.
“This will be the platform for the people’s voice in support of the country’s former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad,” Didi said in a statement yesterday.
He said sections of Bersatu members in Sarawak protested the ‘injustice’ surrounding Dr Mahathir’s resignation as party chairman and will continue to back the former premier.
The movement will serve as a voice in expressing their strong support for Dr Mahathir in upholding justice and fighting kleptocracy in the country, Didi added.
Dr Mahathir quit as Bersatu chairman shortly after resigning as prime minister during the country’s political crisis in February, following the party’s decision to exit Pakatan Harapan which resulted in the collapse of the federal government.
Although the party initially asked him to reconsider his resignation as chairman, it later accepted the decision, with party president and current prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin taking over the role pending a party election, in accordance with the party’s constitution.
In May, the Registrar of Societies via a letter affirmed that Dr Mahathir was no longer Bersatu chairman based on documents submitted by the party, although the former premier disputed this.
He also disputed his May 28 sacking from the party, along with that of four other Bersatu
MPs including his son Datuk Seri Mukhriz, for sitting with the opposition during the May 18 parliament sitting, saying the clause cannot be used as grounds to sack them as they had done nothing wrong.
Clause 10.2.2 and 10.2.3 of
Bersatu’s constitution states that party membership is forfeited if a member fails to comply with party rules.