Gerik MP Fathul Huzir Ayob said it was inappropriate for the party to impose conditions such as requiring candidates to have served two terms on the Supreme Council before contesting the top five positions.
He said these conditions not only limit opportunities for new faces but also disadvantage the party as the public does not see prominent figures at its head.
“As an MP, and not even a division chief, I feel it is quite detrimental to the party if there are restrictions (on contesting the top five posts).
“If new Bersatu representatives are not given the chance to contest positions, it would be a loss because they have influence in their areas, and their names could bring support to Perikatan Nasional (PN),” he told FMT.
Since the 14th general election, a number of leaders from other parties have joined Bersatu, including Hamzah Zainudin from Umno and former PKR deputy president Azmin Ali.
Hamzah was appointed as Bersatu’s secretary-general while Azmin leads the party’s Selangor chapter and serves as the PN information chief.
FMT previously cited party sources as saying that Bersatu’s defeat in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election had sparked discussions on a change in candidacy requirements for its top five positions.
Party insiders who spoke to FMT said the grassroots were challenging this rule, in a bid to ensure the party’s continuity ahead of the 16th general election.
Bersatu Supreme Council member Rafiq Abdullah however opposed the proposal to relax the candidacy requirements, saying changes should not be arbitrarily made to suit certain individuals.
Last week, Bersatu announced that members wishing to contest the October elections must apply to the Supreme Council in accordance with Articles 14.14 and 14.16 of the party constitution.
With the Supreme Council’s recent decision to retain Muhyiddin Yassin as president after the next party polls, attention has turned to the deputy president’s position, currently held by Ahmad Faizal Azumu.
Ketereh MP Khlir Mohd Nor said that as a Bersatu member, he accepts the party’s decision to stick with the existing rules for contesting the top five positions.
“The party has made a decision, so there are no issues here. We just follow it,” he said.