The Malaysian Insight

BERSATU’S central leadership has stepped in to resolve the upheaval in its Perlis chapter.

Party secretary-general Marzuki Yahya said headquarters have taken over the state party to solve its problems.

“There is an internal crisis…some misunderstandings that have caused problems. 

“I received many reports about the problems. So, headquarters has to step in,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Marzuki declined to go into details about the internal problems, only saying that the state leadership was supposed to resolve them.

“They could not solve the issues. Instead more problems were created.

“Even if there was a problem with a person, you don’t just punish the person. You should try to educate and advise the person, as long as he has not broken the law or violated party regulations.”

Asked if the Perlis Bersatu leadership line-up would be changed, Marzuki said the central leadership would get the divisions in order first before looking at a reshuffle.

Perlis Bersatu only has three divisions – Arau, Padang Besar and Kangar.

“Then we will appoint the state committee,” said Marzuki, who is also deputy foreign minister.

Perlis Bersatu on Monday suddenly removed its secretary, Wan Saiful Wan Jan, who is also National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) chairman. 

The removal was announced by state chairman Amier Hassan, who said Wan Saiful, was too busy at PTPTN to carry out his party duties in the state.

Hours after the announcement, Wan Saiful revealed that he had lodged a police report last month about a fellow Perlis Bersatu member misusing his name and falsifying a party letter to pay for car rental and catering services.

He said he was also asked to retract the police report, which he had refused to do.

He also alleged that he was offered money to help arrange government contracts for companies linked to the children of state party leaders.

Wan Saiful’s allegations raised speculation about the reason he was removed as state party secretary.

Amier told The Malaysian Insight on Tuesday that he had reasons to remove Wan Saiful from the position, which he did not want to discuss in the media.

He also said nobody in Perlis Bersatu asked Wan Saiful to retract the police report. – January 10, 2019.