Bersatu Port Dickson chief Badrul Hisham Shaharin, better known as Chegubard, said the culture of flattery and “bootlicking” must be stopped immediately, adding that senior leaders should engage directly with the grassroots.
“The top leadership must go to the ground, listen to the people’s pulse, and champion real issues – not just hold closed-door events to praise the leadership,” he said in a statement.
He cautioned that Bersatu must not fall into the same trap as Umno did during Najib’s tenure, when a culture of flattery thrived through chants of ‘Hidup presiden’ (Long live the president).
“The same should not happen in Bersatu, where individuals around the president use his name in ways that make the leadership appear weak,” he said.
Badrul said Bersatu must return to its original mission of defending the people’s interests, upholding party integrity, and rejecting moves aimed at safeguarding the positions of certain individuals.
He also criticised the party’s central and state leadership for failing to address issues affecting the public, particularly in Negeri Sembilan.
He said the state’s leadership had been passive on key matters such as rising water tariffs, the distribution of state projects, the arrest of a menteri besar’s son, and alleged misconduct in state-linked companies.
“We also condemn acts of sabotage by several state and wing leaders who acted without the division’s knowledge and used the party president’s name to justify their actions,” he said.
Badrul’s statement comes amid growing internal discord within Bersatu.
During the party’s general assembly last month, party president Muhyiddin Yassin revealed that certain quarters were collecting signatures to oust him, prompting some delegates to call for his resignation.
The turmoil later led to the sacking of Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan and the suspension of Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal.
Wan Saiful had accused several individuals close to Muhyiddin of straining ties among the leadership, singling out Bersatu secretary-general Azmin Ali and information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz.
Recently, Bersatu Supreme Council member and Indera Mahkota MP Saifuddin Abdullah joined calls for Muhyiddin to relinquish his post, which led to his removal as Pahang Perikatan Nasional chief.