‘Unite for victory’
In an all-encompassing speech to Bersatu members, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin addressed the need to work with others such as Umno and PAS. The party cannot win elections on its own, says the president.
PETALING JAYA: Increasing membership and tapping young voters were among the calls made by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s women and youth wings to prepare for the next general election.
Bersatu women’s wing chief Datuk Seri Rina Harun said the wing played a crucial role by doubling its membership to what it is now.
“Srikandi (Bersatu’s women wing) is the backbone of Bersatu.
“Our membership is now almost 200,000, and as such, we need to increase the number of members and strength,” she said in her opening speech at Bersatu’s third annual general assembly which was held online yesterday.
She noted that increasing membership for Bersatu at all levels of the community would help increase support for the party in the coming polls.
In tandem with this, Rina also said that Srikandi is proposing amendments to the party’s constitution to allow more branches to be set up nationwide.
“At present, branches are set up based on the number of district polling centres.
“The party leadership must look into this and give due consideration
to the proposal for the survival of the party,” she said, adding that this will allow Bersatu’s presence to be more visible and effective at the grassroots level.
Rina, who is also Women, Family and Community Development Minister, said she would also push for a 30% quota for female candidates in the coming polls.
“I will ensure that this quota is met and female candidates will be given strategic areas to win, instead of merely fielded for the sake of being fielded,” she said.
Rina also noted that Budget 2021 was a reflection of the government’s commitment to helping the rakyat and the nation in facing the Covid-19 pandemic.
Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal expressed confidence the government would be able to return with a commanding majority in the next general election if it maintained the momentum following the passing of Budget 2021 at the policy stage in Parliament on Nov 26.
“We will be successful in the general election and return with a two third-majority, something which has not been achieved in almost two decades,” he said.
He added that success in the polls would also hinge on the support of voters below 30, who make up half of the population.
“Once the Undi18 comes into force next July, the youths will be the largest voting group which must be engaged,” he added.
In this respect, he said the youth wing is proposing that 20% of candidates for the coming election must come from the youth wing.
On the Malay struggle, Wan Ahmad said it was a continuing agenda which Bersatu has now taken on. However, he said the Malay struggle continued to be shackled by three common diseases, namely timidity of spirit, poverty of morality, and “colonised” minds.
Wan Ahmad added that in championing the Malays, Bersatu would not deny the diversity of Bangsa Malaysia.
“In line with the Constitution, Bersatu is committed to uniting the community under one national umbrella, which is the Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” he said.