SHAH ALAM, Nov 25 — Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin decided to take another stab at being Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president again barely a day after his shock announcement not to defend his position at the party’s leadership election due next year.
The Pagoh MP said he changed his mind after talking things through with his wife Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman who pled with him to run for the presidency for one more term.
“This annual general assembly was not the real force that decided things for me. It is actually my wife.
“She told me over text that I have to stay for another term because the party still needs me. ‘Bersatu is still weak,’ she said, ‘and it still needs you to lead. Don't disappoint them’.
“I responded by saying ‘Okay, my darling’ to her.
“With that, I'm announcing that I will volunteer as a candidate in the next party election for the president’s post,” he said in his closing remarks at the sixth Bersatu's annual general assembly held at the Ideal Convention Centre.
Earlier in his speech, Muhyiddin said the decision to not defend the president post was something he had been considering due to his age.
“I’m 76 years old now, I’ll be 80 when the next election comes — over 50 years in politics. I have been here with Bersatu since day one until today. It’s enough,” he said.
The former Umno man suggested the idea of him being an advisor to the party or establishing an advisory council, or even a chairman council.
“I want to make it clear that I'm not going to offer myself as a presidential candidate, I have an idea. First, when I don't become president if the supreme council and the leadership agree, I'd be an adviser to the party.
“If you want to propose a constitutional amendment, you can add one, there's an advisory chair. Or if I can't be an adviser, we set up an advisory council for Bersatu. That’s my second proposal.
“If I say that I want to be the chairman of the Bersatu presidential council, it functions like PAS’s Syura council, which has certain powers enshrined in the party constitution. It is important in the final say of choosing parliamentary and state candidates. That’s my recommendation,” he said.
By this time, the delegates had already made up their minds and repeatedly shouted “Kekal presiden” (stay as president) directed to Muhyiddin.
Bersatu chairman Datuk Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah used his power to intervene Muhyiddin’s speech and asked delegates whether they agreed or disagreed with the former prime minister’s proposal.
To which all delegates shouted “No’’ with all their might.
Later in a press conference, Muhyiddin called the importance of establishing an advisory council in the future to strengthen the party.
“Maybe I'll talk to the supreme council whether I'm there or not, there's a need for a body to give insight and advice," he said.
