Aide: Not heeding Dr M's advice, Bersatu overthrown by Umno bit by bit

Aide: Not heeding Dr M's advice, Bersatu overthrown by Umno bit by bit

Bersatu may still be in power in three states and Putrajaya if its leaders had heeded the advice of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, according to Pejuang central executive committee (CEC) member Abu Bakar Yahya Aby.

Abu Bakar, Mahathir’s political secretary, urged the ruling coalition to listen to the views of the former premier.

“I am sure if the Bersatu leaders had listened to Mahathir’s advice, they wouldn’t have been overthrown one by one by Umno - starting from the Johor menteri besar, followed by the Kedah menteri besar and Perak MB, and finally the prime minister post,” he said in a Facebook posting today.

“Let us listen to Mahathir’s suggestions and advice as long as he is still there."

Abu Bakar was referring to Mahathir's proposal for a National Operations Council (NOC) government to be set up, similar to the one that ruled the country from 1969 to 1971 after the May 13 riots.

Mahathir, who proposed the setting up of NOC to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong during an audience in June, had expressed his interest in spearheading the NOC to fight Covid-19.

In his previous posting, Abu Bakar said Mahathir’s prediction came true as the nonagenarian warned of Bersatu’s destruction when it decided to quit Pakatan Harapan, which also caused the fall of the 22-month-old coalition government.

“In one of Bersatu’s meetings, Mahathir also cautioned the party against leaving Harapan, fearing its destruction later. But it was stubborn on leaving,” said the Pejuang welfare bureau chief.

Abu Bakar added that Mahathir had issued a similar warning 20 years ago that the Malay community might reject Umno due to corruption and money politics.



The fall of the Harapan administration saw state leadership change in Johor and Kedah, later followed by Perak after its menteri besar losing the support of lawmakers.

Similarly, Muhyiddin Yassin resigned as prime minister after 15 Umno MPs withdrew their support for him.

Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Mohd Noor is currently the only Bersatu state chief executive left after losing the top job in three states and Putrajaya.