Muhyiddin made it clear he would not tolerate such attempts that could sow discord within the party.

“Do not allow ourselves to be pitted against each other. Don’t ‘poke’ here and there,” he said in his policy address at Bersatu’s seventh annual general meeting here today.

“These so-called camps and groups that claim to exist will only weaken and divide us. I will never condone this nonsense in our party.”

Muhyddin said a united Bersatu is needed, as those in government can no longer be relied upon to uplift the nation, given that the goals of each party seem to contradict one another.

“So, what choice do we have? Our only choice is to unite and move forward together, step by step, side by side, with one heart and soul to conquer Putrajaya in the 16th general election,” he said.

“This is the only option we have to save our people and country.”

FMT previously reported that Muhyiddin had dismissed the existence of a “cartel” at the party elections, alluding to the alleged camps vying for top posts.

The elections were widely seen as a proxy battle between deputy president Hamzah Zainudin and Azmin Ali,  who joined Bersatu from Umno and PKR, respectively.

Azmin has since been appointed the party’s secretary-general.

Muhyiddin acknowledged that there would always be speculation about divisions within the party, particularly leading up to elections.

“But that’s not the case. This perception (of factions) is also found in other political parties but, in the end, they close ranks,” he said.

‘Non-Malays still doubt Bersatu’

Meanwhile, Muhyiddin Yassin admitted that non-Malays were still hesitant to support the party.

He said in the series of by-elections held recently, Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional’s support largely came from Malay and Bumiputera voters.

“There is non-Malay support but it should be increased much more.

“Therefore, as a party upholding the spirit of new nationalism for Malaysia, Bersatu cannot depend solely on the support of Malays and Bumiputeras to form the government,” he said.