Bersatu bracing for fiery AGM amidst growing criticism
KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) is bracing itself for an interesting albeit fiery annual general meeting tomorrow amidst growing criticism by its allies over its move to accept Umno defectors.
The three-day AGM, which will start with the meeting of its wings tomorrow, is also expected to see Bersatu trying to convince the Malays, who make up the majority of the country’s electorate, that the party is able to defend their interests.
“(We want) to give confidence to the Malays that in this New Malaysia, their future and the Federal Constitution will be protected.
“What the Malay community, and Malaysians as a whole, want is a Malay leadership that is trustworthy and full of integrity and who can advance the nation’s future,” said Bersatu Youth (Armada) chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.
He said Bersatu was championing the rights and interests of the Malays though many other parties have tried to paint a different picture about them.
“Bersatu has to play an important role in countering this negative perception and to prove that the Pakatan Harapan government will defend the Federal Constitution.
He acknowledged that there would be much debate at the Bersatu AGM over the perception that Bersatu was becoming Umno 2.0.
“The Armada leadership has, with one voice, said we do not agree with the large Umno influx.
“If there is a thief or robber who joins Bersatu, I myself will leave the party.”
“Just because you enter the party does not mean that cases by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission or police against you will be dropped,” he said, adding that a strict vetting process was in place.
In a special interview with the press to mark the AGM, Syed Saddiq said the main priority for the wing was to continually engage with issues close to the youths.
This would be reflected in the matters that would be raised in the Bersatu wings’ annual general meeting (AGM) tomorrow, he said.
“When you think about Armada, it’s not about two to three political issues. It’s about dealing with fundamental youth empowerment issues and bread and butter issues.
“At the end, people vote a party based on those issues. People will vote a party (based on) whether that party is able to address issues on the cost of living, affordable housing, PTPTN (National Higher Education Fund Corporation), quality of education, quality of life,” he said.
Bersatu is one party which makes efforts to empower the youth, he said, adding that about 57% of the party members were young people.
The party had also fielded 32 Youth candidates in the past general election, he said, and it was the only one that had nominated a Youth leader for the Pakatan Harapan presidential council line-up.
“We want to ensure that the Youth leaders in Bersatu through Armada will become the main voice of the youth in Malaysia to protect their interests and fight for their concerns.
“(We want) to give them hope that young people are not just followers in politics,” he said.
He admitted, however, that more could be done to empower female youth leaders in the party.
“I am concerned that if we do not put forward more young women in the Bersatu leadership, we will lose the support of these young women,” he said, adding that a comprehensive assessment was needed for this matter.
Despite being in government, he said, Armada was committed to work on the ground to engage with the youth and understand their problems.
“We cannot just be a government that goes to official events, cuts a ribbon and has a meeting in our own offices.
“We have to think like the government, but work hard like (we did when we were the) opposition,” he said.