KUALA LUMPUR — A Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) supreme council meeting scheduled for Monday (May 11) without former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and his son Mr Mukhriz Mahathir has been called off.

The meeting’s deferment was made known mere hours after the invite to the meeting to discuss the possible sacking of both leaders was reported widely by news outlets on Sunday.

Bersatu supreme council member Rais Hussin Mohamed Arif confirmed the matter to Malay Mail when contacted.

“Yes, it is deferred to a later date to be confirmed later,” he told Malay Mail in a brief text when asked if the meeting, which was scheduled for 12pm on Monday, had been postponed.

Earlier on Sunday, Malay Mail sighted a notice for the meeting issued by Bersatu working secretary Muhammad Suhaimi Yahya listing the party’s president, two vice-presidents, heads of the youth and women’s wings, and other supreme council members as invitees.

Against the backdrop of a split within Bersatu’s top ranks, both the deputy president and the chairman were noticeably missing from the list.

Mr Mukhriz, who is currently Bersatu deputy president, and Dr Mahathir, who is Bersatu chairman, played a crucial role in the formation of Bersatu in 2016, with the aim of replacing Umno as the party of choice for Malays and Bumiputeras.

Dr Mahathir and Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin are currently embroiled in a conflict which has split the party into two opposing factions, following the latter’s move to team up with Barisan Nasional, PAS and Gabungan Parti Sarawak to form the new ruling government early this year.

Following the establishment of a new ruling government, Mr Muhyiddin was sworn in as Malaysia’s eighth prime minister.

Dr Mahathir has proposed a motion of no confidence against Muhyiddin in Parliament which has since been accepted by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusoff. MALAY MAIL