Johor Bersatu denies mass exodus from party

JOHOR BARU: Johor Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia has denied reports of a mass exodus from the party, saying that only a small number of people have left.

The party’s Johor secretary Mohd Solihan Badri said the handful of people who had left the party so far comprised ordinary members and two branch chairmen.

“Latest I heard, some of those who quit were from the Kota Tinggi division.

“But that division is not winding up as we have other candidates to take over,” he said, adding that he had yet to get the final report on the number of resignations so far.

Solihan, who is among the pioneers of Johor Bersatu and had recruited 19 of the 26 division chairmen when it was formed here, maintained that the party was still intact.

He also dispelled rumours of defection from Bersatu’s 11 state assemblymen that might lead to the collapse of the Johor government, which is currently functioning with 29 assemblymen.

Pakatan Harapan has 27 assemblymen on the opposing side.

Solihan said there was no reason for the Bersatu assemblymen to defect, especially after the warning by the Johor Ruler to all the 56 state assemblymen in early June.

Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar had then warned the elected representatives to stop politicking amid the rakyat’s economic hardship or he would dissolve the state assembly, forcing an election.

Meanwhile, Johor Bersatu acting Armada (youth) chief Shaiful Rizal Mohd Salleh, in a Facebook post, announced he had quit the party.

He also relinquished all party positions including as Kota Tinggi Armada chief and the division’s vice-chief.

Meanwhile, talk is rife that the division has wound up after 15 of its committee members including its chief Baser Senin resigned from the party yesterday.

In a statement, Baser alleged that eight out of 15 Kota Tinggi Bersatu branches had disbanded.

He claimed that all committee members, including its Srikandi (women’s) and Armada wings, had left the party, citing loss of faith in the central leadership.

He said the decision was made during a special meeting on Tuesday night, adding that they did not reject the possibility of supporting and joining Dr Mahathir’s new political party.