SHAH ALAM: Bersatu needs to recruit a million more members in the next year to strengthen the party’s base, says its president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (pic).
He urged the party to carry out a vigorous membership drive to increase its current 7,000 branches to 12,000 to accommodate the new members, adding that the number of non-Malays in the associate wings was “not enough”.
The Pagoh MP said this in his closing speech on the last day of the Bersatu sixth annual general meeting at the Ideal Convention Centre here yesterday.
“The push for membership has now waned in comparison to our early days. Bersatu needs to strengthen itself and we must not weaken the base.
“The many speeches and motions put forward show that this is an unusual AGM, showing strong love for the party. It has not even been a decade, but it (Bersatu) has gained the support of the Malays. We cannot be compared to PAS as they are seven decades old,” he said, adding that in one year, they must find one million new members.
Muhyiddin said that without Bersatu in the Perikatan Nasional coalition, PAS would not be where it is, adding that it was the same the other way around as they needed each other. In terms of limits, he said there should none to membership as the party constitution did not stop anyone from being a member.
“In such a short period, our struggle and policies have been accepted by the Malays in the general election, state elections and by-elections. However, the number of non-Malays in the associate wings is not enough,” he added.
Bersatu vice-president Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee said if the party wanted to be the dominant Malay and bumiputra-based party, it must continue to increase the number of branches and members.
“We need to continuously increase the number of branches and members if we want to replace Umno as well as raise the number of Bersatu MPs and state assemblymen. We cannot solely rely on the ‘wave’ because it can come to an end. We don’t want to end up being a ‘home stay’ or ‘boarding house’ for those wanting to leave PKR or Umno.
“If we continue to fear increasing numbers, fear about losing our power if we are doing our job, then there is no fear. This is because we want to be the alternative party to Umno for the Malays and bumiputra,” said the Beluran MP.
Kiandee said instead of replacing or axing leaders, it was best to clean up the branches to capitalise on the recruitment of young voters and women.
Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal said the country would become secular should the Malay nationalist parties not defend Malays and Islam.
“Bersatu Youth must ensure that no member betrays race or religion,” said the Machang MP.
