Party secretary-general Azmin Ali said Azhar’s appointment was among several decisions made at a Bersatu Supreme Council meeting held tonight, chaired by president Muhyiddin Yassin.

The other members of the appeals board are former MPs Redzuan Yusof and Abdul Latiff Ahmad, as well as Zulkifli Noordin – a former aide to opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin – and Fahimee Ismail.

Their appointments come as Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan and Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal appeal their respective sacking and suspension from the party.

Azmin said among important matters discussed by the Bersatu Supreme Council tonight was the ongoing turmoil in the party, which had led to calls for Muhyiddin’s resignation.

“The Supreme Council takes the party’s internal issues seriously and is determined to continue working collectively to find solutions based on mutual respect and good understanding, with a firm commitment to upholding the party constitution,” he said in a statement.

He said the top leadership also discussed the party’s preparations for the Sabah state election and the Malaysia-US reciprocal trade agreement.

Bersatu has seen an escalation of tensions following the disciplinary action taken on Wan Saiful and Wan Fayhsal, amid an apparent leadership feud between Muhyiddin and Hamzah.

Hamzah had also been summoned by the Bersatu disciplinary board, according to Wan Saiful.

The Bersatu deputy president had attended today’s Supreme Council meeting but reportedly evaded questions from the media when leaving the party’s headquarters tonight.