KUALA LUMPUR — Bersatu grassroots leaders have urged party chiefs not to act hastily by sacking its founding members, party chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad and deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir.

They told The Malaysian Insight it would not be fair to them, unless the father and son have violated party rules.

Teluk Bahang assemblyman Zolkifly Md Lazim said the duo can only be dismissed if there is solid proof and reason.

“If they breached the party’s constitution, then it must be brought to the disciplinary board and proven they have done so.

“All members must obey party instructions. Action can be taken against anyone violating party rules. This is to strengthen the party,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

However, Mr Juhari Bulat, the assemblyman for Ayer Hangat in Langkawi, disagreed with the sacking of Dr Mahathir and his son, saying that such an act would prove democracy is dead in the party.

“They should not be sacked. No one should be sacked in Bersatu.

“Political parties must adhere to democratic processes. Let democracy thrive. A meeting or a discussion is the best way to deal with this crisis,” he said.

The two assemblymen said this following speculation the party is planning to sack the duo soon for breaching party lines.

A party supreme council meeting was to have been held yesterday, supposedly to deliberate on the sacking but cancelled at the eleventh hour.

Dr Mahathir and Mr Mukhriz were not invited to the meeting.

Bersatu is now split into two camps — one pro-Dr Mahathir and another pro-president Muhyiddin Yassin — following disagreements over the its political alliance, whether it should be with Pakatan Harapan (PH) or Umno.

Mr Muhyiddin took Bersatu out of PH in late February and formed a new government with Umno and PAS, supported by parties from Sabah and Sarawak.

Mr Muhyiddin also took office as party chairman after Dr Mahathir resigned on Feb 24, although the supreme council earlier rejected his resignation.

The former prime minister, however, was returned unopposed as the chairman in nominations for party elections. Mr Mukhriz, on the other hand, is challenging Muhyiddin for the president’s post.

Speculation on the sacking of Dr Mahathir and Mr Mukhriz cropped up after Bersatu information chief Mohd Radzi Md Jidin said in a statement that any member affiliated with another coalition and acts contrary to Bersatu’s stand can be sacked.

RETURN TO NEGOTIATIONS

Meanwhile, Bersatu youth information chief Ulya Aqamah Husamudin said the party should not sack Dr Mahathir because he is “the number one man” in the party, and his party membership indicated the same.

“I was invited to attend the supreme council meeting (which was postponed yesterday). I will protest if there is an agenda for him to be fired,” he said.

Mr Ulya is one of the leaders who questioned the narrative that the supreme council supported Muhyiddin’s move to bring the party out of PH and Dr Mahathir was aware of it.

Bukit Bendera Bersatu youth member Razaliff Mohd Zain also said the party’s current leadership interpreted the constitution in their own favour.

“The appointment of a new secretary-general is invalid. Which constitution is being used to fire Dr Mahathir and Mukhriz?”

Mr  Razaliff is referring to the sacking of Mr Marzuki Yahya as secretary-general on March 18. He was replaced by former Umno man Hamzah Zainuddin, who is also a minister.

Rasah Bersatu youth chief Muhammad Farit Hamzah called on the top leaders to return to the negotiating table to discuss ways to resolve its internal crisis.

“The supreme council cannot sack individuals as they please. They have to follow the proper channels. Dr Mahathir, Mukhriz and Muhyiddin need to sit down together to discuss.

“I urge all three of them to stand down (from fighting),” he said.

Bukit Mertajam Bersatu youth chief Zikri Zulkifli said sacking them is not an appropriate step.

“The party needs to find the best solution, amicably. Dr Mahathir and Mukhriz are two of the most important figures in the party.” THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT