Who Is Bersatu, Where Did They Come From, And How Did They Get Here?
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Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) already has a colourful history although the party has only been around since 2016.
Set up by UMNO defectors along with some new faces, the party was originally part of the coalition (Pakatan Harapan) that was bent on ending the 60-year Barisan Nasional rule.
After the collapse of Pakatan, Bersatu went on to form Perikatan Nasional – a new coalition that’s made up of UMNO, Bersatu and Pas.
We take a look at Bersatu’s beginnings to becoming what it is today.
Early beginnings of the party
Driven to bring down Barisan, the party was founded by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who was at the time, Malaysia’s former and fourth Prime Minister along with other politicians in August 2016.
Bersatu teamed up with PH, a coalition comprised of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Democratic Action Party (DAP) and a few parties from Sabah and Sarawak.
On their website, they’ve underlined what the party stands for:
- Observing institutional reforms to restore integrity in the Federal administration.
- Restoring democracy and the rule of law have been denied and misused.
- To uphold the integrity of the separation of powers between Legislative, Executive and Judiciary.
- Striving to improve the performance of the Government and provide a better life for Malaysians regardless of race or religion.
- To restore the honor and honor of the world to Malaysia and its people.
- Collaborate with political parties and non-governmental organizations with aspirations and principles in an effort to build better government leadership in the interests of the Nation and the People of Malaysia.
During the 14th General Election, the coalition managed to do the impossible – topple the ruling government, BN and becoming the new party that was set to change the country for the better.
After GE14 in May 2018, Dr Mahathir became Malaysia’s seventh Prime Minister, making him the oldest statesman in the world to hold that position at the age of 92.
With his Cabinet made up of people from different backgrounds and ethnicities, it looked like there was actual progress. They even had a female Deputy Prime Minister in Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
Photo Credit: Bersatu
Then it turned sour
After being in power, the coalition came across many challenges including the khat and black shoes debacle, the legislation to punish drunk drivers and that thing about succeeding the premiership to PKR President Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
There was a lot of bickering over the transition as some want Dr Mahathir to stay in power while others want Anwar to succeed him as soon as possible.
Except, it never happened.
Bersatu President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin decided to withdraw Bersatu from PH on 23 Feb, a few hours before the infamous “Sheraton move” which also gave birth to Perikatan Nasional.
The next day (24 Feb), Dr Mahathir resigned from his position as Prime Minister and tried to resign from Bersatu as well, but would instead stay on in the latter.
Kenyataan Akhbar : Peletakan Jawatan sebagai Perdana Menteri Malaysia pic.twitter.com/naW2MajfsG
— Dr Mahathir Mohamad (@chedetofficial) February 24, 2020
Dr Mahathir was reinstated as the interim Prime Minister on the same day that he resigned his post.
He then announced on 25 February that he wants to establish a non-partisan national administration.
This was cut short after the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah decreed that Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, to become the next Prime Minister instead.
The decision was made after interviewing the Members of Parliament.
Muhyiddin swore into office on 1 March 2020.
Enter Perikatan Nasional
After the confusion in the Malaysia’s political landscape, which is around the same time when Covid-19 cases started to increase in the country, Perikatan Nasional It was made up of Bersatu, UMNO and Pas emerged as the ruling coalition.
Muhyiddin made his first address on 10 May.
Dr Mahathir then contested the legitimacy of Perikatan as he argued that they don’t have the majority to take control.
Perikatan brought along changes to the government including replacing chief ministers in certain states and also placing their own party members in Government-Linked Companies (GLCs).
During this time, Dr Mahathir was vocal about Bersatu, disagreeing with party although he was the party’s Chairman.
He was then ousted on 28 May along with several other party members, including his son, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir.
