PETALING JAYA: Tensions within Bersatu flared after its Sabah secretary Yunus Nurdin blamed party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) defeat in the 17th Sabah state election, prompting Bersatu information chief Datuk Tun Faizal Ismail Aziz to call for leaders to wait for the official post-mortem before assigning responsibility.
Tun Faizal said Yunus and others should not rush to conclusions, adding that a proper evaluation must first be presented by Sabah PN chairman Datuk Ronald Kiandee and party election director Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin.
“As the state secretary, Yunus should instead assist in preparing the post-mortem report before it is presented to the PN Supreme Council and Bersatu Supreme Council, which are scheduled to meet next week,” he told theSun.
Tun Faizal also rejected claims by Yunus and his group that Muhyiddin was responsible for Bersatu’s poor performance.
He said many in the party believe accountability lies with Hamzah and Ronald due to their roles in managing preparations for the state election.
He also said delays in finalising candidates also affected Bersatu’s prospects, adding that Muhyiddin received the party’s complete candidate list only on the night of the announcement.
“This is one of the issues we have recorded. There should have been a dedicated candidate selection committee responsible for this.
“The process and procedures for candidate selection must be reported to the PN Supreme Council and Bersatu Supreme Council.
“From the beginning, all planning and management for the election were under the responsibility of the Sabah PN chairman and the Sabah election director. It is their duty to report the post-mortem findings.”
The media reported on Dec 3 that Sabah Bersatu urged Muhyiddin to resign as party president and PN chairman following the defeat of the coalition in the Sabah election.
The call was made by Yunus, who appeared at a press conference with several division heads, defeated candidates and party wing leaders.
However, a day later, eight Sabah Bersatu division chiefs defended Muhyiddin, insisting that responsibility for the coalition’s performance rested with Ronald and Hamzah, not the party president.
The division chiefs included Ahmad Ali Akbar Khan Gulan (Lahad Datu), Jupri Omar (Kota Belud), Faizal Julaili (Papar), Ekbal Khalid (Kalabakan), Abidin Sahat (Ranau), Amat Yusof (Kimanis), Mazmin Mazin (Kinabatangan) and Ramli AG Said (Sipitang).
They said Ronald and Hamzah were the individuals overseeing preparations, strategy and decision-making for Bersatu and PN during the state election.
In the Nov 29 polls, PN secured only one win out of the 41 seats it contested.
The coalition’s sole victory came from PAS candidate Datuk Dr Aliakbar Gulasan in Karambunai, while all 30 Bersatu candidates lost their respective races.
