KUALA LUMPUR — Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has denied interfering in his party’s ongoing disciplinary process against several MPs, saying the actions taken were consistent with the party’s constitution, according to Indera Mahkota MP Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah.
Saifuddin, who handed over a letter signed by 16 Bersatu MPs to Muhyiddin on October 27, said the letter expressed concern over growing disunity within the party and urged the leadership to restore stability within Perikatan Nasional (PN).
“When I handed over the letter, Tan Sri Muhyiddin read it and said the disciplinary board had acted according to the party’s constitution and that he did not interfere,” Saifuddin told Scoop.
“I explained that the letter was not an appeal on behalf of the three MPs referred to the disciplinary board, but rather a collective expression of concern from Bersatu MPs about the internal situation,” he added.
Following the meeting, Saifuddin said he informed the MPs who signed the letter of Muhyiddin’s response and advised them not to take any further action.
The 16 MPs had earlier sent a letter dated October 23 to Muhyiddin, voicing “serious concern” over the recent suspensions and expulsions of several colleagues — moves they said could erode public confidence in Bersatu and weaken PN’s position ahead of the upcoming Sabah state election.
Saifuddin also said, members were not seeking to undermine Muhyiddin’s legacy but to steer the party forward.
“Tan Sri Muhyiddin is living in past glories, still talking about his time as prime minister. That is his legacy — and we are thankful for it and will defend it. But we also need to present new offers to the people, including a new face.”
Among those who signed were Saifuddin himself, Major-General (Rtd) Datuk Khlir Mohd Nor (Ketereh), Muhammad Islahuddin Abas (Mersing), Fathul Huzir Ayob (Gerik), Datuk Dr Ku Abd Rahman Ku Ismail (Kubang Pasu), and Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (Tanah Merah).
Other signatories included MPs from Rompin, Kangar, Kuala Nerus, Jerantut, Setiu, and several others, reflecting broad representation from different states.
Saifuddin said the 16 MPs were standing in solidarity with three others currently being investigated by the party’s disciplinary board — Pendang division chief and Sungai Tiang assemblyman Abdul Razak Khamis, Datuk Mohd Suhaimi Ghazali (Sepang), and Mohd Shukor Mustafa (Puchong).
The trio were summoned separately by the disciplinary board on October 30 at Bersatu’s headquarters in Petaling Jaya.
They are believed to be among some 120 division leaders who signed statutory declarations (SDs) urging Muhyiddin to step down and hand over the presidency to his deputy, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.
With the inclusion of these three MPs, Saifuddin said the total number of Bersatu parliamentarians aligned in expressing concern had risen to 19.
He also noted that two MPs who serve as party vice-presidents did not take part in the letter, suggesting that internal unease could be more widespread than reflected in the document.
In a follow-up post on October 31 titled Risalah No.13, Saifuddin reiterated that the letter was not an appeal but merely conveyed the MPs’ sentiments to the president.
“It was not a letter of appeal. I told my colleagues not to do anything further,” he wrote.
The development underscores ongoing tensions within Bersatu’s parliamentary bloc amid efforts to maintain unity ahead of key political contests. — November 2, 2025