SHAH ALAM – The 8th Annual General Assembly (AGM) of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) yesterday concluded with two contrasting impressions.
While delegates unanimously named its president, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, as the party's candidate for the 11th Prime Minister, the assembly was marred by a commotion during the president’s keynote speech.
Delegates unanimously approved three key motions: the president’s policy speech, full support for Muhyiddin’s leadership, and his nomination as the party's Prime Minister candidate.
This was seen as a clear sign that the party intended to retain its current leadership.
However, the harmonious atmosphere turned chaotic when a scuffle and shoving broke out in the hall while Muhyiddin was speaking.
The incident forced the intervention of security personnel to control the situation.
Internal sources claimed the commotion was triggered by provocations from certain individuals who allegedly pressured the president to resign, an issue closely tied to internal rifts that had surfaced in recent weeks.
Muhyiddin himself expressed regret over the incident, saying it disrupted the flow of his keynote address, which was meant to focus on the people's economic struggles, national unity and Bersatu’s direction ahead of the upcoming election.
Political observers described the incident as a 'fire beneath the ashes' that could threaten Bersatu’s internal stability if not dealt with promptly, warning that even small cracks could have a major impact on the party’s image.
In the aftermath, Bersatu’s youth wing, Armada, lodged a police report as well as a complaint with the party’s disciplinary board.
Those involved were summoned and reportedly apologised for their actions.
Authorities also launched an investigation, indicating that the incident was being taken seriously and raising questions about the party’s internal discipline.
The Sungai Buloh Bersatu division openly expressed disappointment, calling the chaos shameful and a stain on the AGM, which was supposed to proceed in an orderly manner.
They demanded tighter security control for future sessions.
Despite the embarrassing incident, Muhyiddin’s nomination remained the highlight, reflecting Bersatu’s effort to elevate his image once more as a national candidate.
However, political analysts stressed that the nomination was more about strengthening the party’s internal image than sending a clear signal to the public.
They added that Muhyiddin’s position appeared fragile without the full endorsement of its Perikatan Nasional (PN) allies, particularly Pas.
This AGM ultimately highlighted two faces of Bersatu: one confident, with motions supporting its president and one fragile, with internal cracks exposed to the public.
If not resolved quickly, such incidents could erode public confidence in Bersatu’s ability to be a pillar of national politics.
In the short term, Bersatu had to ensure party discipline was enforced and security at meetings was tightened to prevent further embarrassment.
In the long term, the party had to adopt a more inclusive approach to managing differing opinions.
The AGM was a crucial platform for Muhyiddin to consolidate support, but it also served as a severe test of the party’s credibility.
Its leadership's next steps would determine whether the assembly would become a point of momentum or a point of weakness.