KUALA LUMPUR – Former Bersatu leader Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah has described his dismissal from the party as unfair and biased, saying the decision was made without a proper and impartial disciplinary process.
In a media statement issued today, Saifuddin said the decision stemmed from a disciplinary meeting held on November 6, 2025, at Bersatu’s headquarters in Petaling Jaya.
He said he attended the meeting in good faith after being summoned over several allegations, including issuing statements said to have damaged the party’s image, criticising party leaders, calling for President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to step down, and questioning decisions made by the party’s Disciplinary Board.
According to Saifuddin, the session was chaired by Datuk Mohammed Radzi Manan, with board members Sasha Lyna Abdul Latif and Mohd Razlan Jalaludin also present.
Saifuddin said he raised three key demands during the meeting, beginning with a request for Mohammed Radzi and Sasha Lyna to recuse themselves due to what he described as clear and serious conflicts of interest.
“I requested that both individuals step aside because the conflicts were real and significant, and my right to a fair hearing could not be guaranteed,” he said.
He claimed Mohammed Radzi had close family ties to senior Bersatu leaders who had publicly called for disciplinary action against him, while Sasha Lyna worked under Selangor opposition leader Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, whom Saifuddin said could potentially influence the proceedings.
Saifuddin said the board rejected his request on the grounds that it was not a court and therefore recusal was unnecessary.
“To me, that response was unsatisfactory and went against the basic principles of natural justice, conflict of interest and fair hearing,” he said, adding that disciplinary bodies were equally bound to uphold those principles.
He also questioned the disciplinary process itself, saying the board acted as investigator, prosecutor and decision maker in his case.
“This is fundamentally unfair. The same body investigated me, prosecuted me and then decided my fate,” Saifuddin said.
Saifuddin further said he requested that Muhyiddin be called to appear before the board, as the charges against him included allegations that he had suggested the party president step down.
“These issues can only be addressed by Tan Sri Muhyiddin himself, not by the complainant, the investigator or the Disciplinary Board,” he said, adding that no response was given to the request.
Following the November 6 meeting, Saifuddin said he formally requested a new disciplinary session that would address all three concerns. However, he said he received no reply until he was served with a notice of dismissal yesterday.
Saifuddin said he will submit an appeal against the decision in the near future.– January 7, 2026