Muhyiddin has his way in party polls, proving his staying power
The Straits Times|November 07, 2024
But campaign to wrest power from Anwar coalition continues to face headwinds
Shannon Teoh

Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Muhyiddin Yassin's hand-picked nominees won the three vice-presidencies in leadership polls on Nov 2, reflecting the former prime minister's hold on the embattled opposition party amid jostling among top leaders and recent defections.

The party's divisional general meetings that preceded the triennial internal polls saw at least 10 out of close to 200 Bersatu divisions suspended, while dozens of members have quit in Pahang and Johor states. Questions were also raised over the polls result for the youth chief.

Bersatu needs to avoid deeper turmoil if it wants to retain its position as the lynchpin of Malaysia's opposition pact Perikatan Nasional (PN), which includes Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS), and refocus its efforts on toppling Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's multi-coalition government.

Bersatu has 25 lawmakers in the federal Parliament, after six MPs were automatically ejected for backing Datuk Seri Anwar, while PAS has 43, making it the biggest party in Parliament. PAS also has the most state assemblymen.

Adding to its troubles, Bersatu - a Malay-based party founded by former Umno leaders - has been hit by back-to-back by-election losses in Nenggiri, Kelantan, in August and Mahkota, Johor, in September, making it vital to quickly turn the tide.

The polls result showed that, at the very least, the party has staved off further internal conflict, thanks to Muhyiddin's brokered compromise between factions led by former Cabinet ministers Hamzah Zainudin and Azmin Ali.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November 07, 2024 من The Straits Times.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November 07, 2024 من The Straits Times.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من THE STRAITS TIMES مشاهدة الكل
The Straits Times

Touring exhibition of graffiti artist Banksy to open in Singapore in December

The guerilla-style political art of anonymous graffiti artist Banksy, which has popped up on streets in cities worldwide, will finally grace vandalism-tough Singapore this December—albeit indoors.

time-read
1 min  |
November 07, 2024
The Straits Times

Bag brand Aupen's founder is former national swimmer Nicholas Tan

The Singapore-founded bag brand Aupen has been seen on the arms of pop superstars Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, and Beyonce, but the team behind the trendy label has largely kept a low profile—until now.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 07, 2024
The Straits Times

Music from Bridgerton in upcoming concert

Fans of the Netflix historical romance series Bridgerton (2020 to present) are in for a treat as songs from the hit show will be performed in Singapore.

time-read
1 min  |
November 07, 2024
Travel news Travel discounts at Trafalgar Tours' showcase
The Straits Times

Travel news Travel discounts at Trafalgar Tours' showcase

From Nov 6 to 10, Trafalgar Tours, a brand under travel company The Travel Corporation (TTC), is holding its first travel fair at the level one atrium of shopping centre Plaza Singapura.

time-read
1 min  |
November 07, 2024
Musical Six retells stories of Henry VIII's wives in pop-concert style
The Straits Times

Musical Six retells stories of Henry VIII's wives in pop-concert style

Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived - this is how most people remember the six wives of 16th-century King of England Henry VIII.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 07, 2024
Nafa's hopes of building a print archive
The Straits Times

Nafa's hopes of building a print archive

The acquisition of a collection from Typesettingsg, Singapore's only letterpress heritage studio, has increased its holdings by about 10 times

time-read
3 mins  |
November 07, 2024
Brotherly bonds cut deeper than blades
The Straits Times

Brotherly bonds cut deeper than blades

Psychological thriller Pierce offers a bracing portrait of how young men seek out and cling to male role models

time-read
2 mins  |
November 07, 2024
Thousands of girls sold and forced into sex trade in India
The Straits Times

Thousands of girls sold and forced into sex trade in India

West Bengal a key trafficking hub, with more than 50,000 girls missing

time-read
3 mins  |
November 07, 2024
Dua Lipa gets Singapore crowd 'levitating'
The Straits Times

Dua Lipa gets Singapore crowd 'levitating'

The words \"training season's over\" flashed on the screen as British-Albanian singer Dua Lipa took the Singapore Indoor Stadium stage on Nov 5 to kick off her Radical Optimism Tour.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 07, 2024
4 movies, 2 islands
The Straits Times

4 movies, 2 islands

Singapore film-makers look to Taiwan for funding, hands-on support, cultural kinship

time-read
6 mins  |
November 07, 2024