PUTRAJAYA, July 15 — Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) plans to amend its constitution this weekend in a move that would pave the way for direct election and allow regular members to run for top posts, its de facto leader and Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced today.

The move followed hours of deliberation by its supreme council here, which decided that the party would hold an extraordinary general meeting on July 20 to make the amendment.

"We will have an EGM to on (July) 20 after we deliberated long and agreed on how to make amendments to the constitution so that regular members can play a bigger role in the committee elections at the branch and divisional level,” Dr Mahathir told reporters here during a press conference.

"Elected delegates will then vote for the top leadership.”

PPBM is the youngest component member of the ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition but is seen mustering considerable influence within the four-party bloc thanks to Dr Mahathir's popularity.

But political analysts said the stability displayed at the top level belies the infighting that plagues its lower ranks.

Earlier today, a Singapore-based paper claimed the planned amendment to the party constitution would include a "swathe” of changes that would see party elections delayed to at least two more years.

A party leader who spoke on condition of anonymity was quoted saying that the party was unprepared to face elections.

PPBM is due to have its maiden party polls in September.