KUALA LUMPUR: Internal divisions, especially involving two factions within Bersatu, can no longer be "hidden" as protests continue pouring in following the announcement of committee election results for the Bersatu Youth, Srikandi, and Srikandi Muda levels.
According to political analysts, the division within the party is becoming increasingly apparent, signalling the potential outcome for the party Supreme Council election for the 2024-2027 term.
Universiti Malaya Department of Political Science, Public Administration, and Development Studies senior lecturer, Dr Mohammad Tawfik Yaakub, said that the victory of two leaders from different factions in the positions of Bersatu Youth chief and deputy Youth chief indicates that the existing turmoil will be difficult to resolve.
"I believe that Hilman's (Muhammad Hilman Idham) victory as Armada chief from Azmin's (Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali) faction and Muhammad Faiz Rahmad as deputy chief from Hamzah's (Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin) faction will create instability in the party and likely hinder cooperation between the two," he said.
Tawfik was responding to objections, including from Armada, which questioned the transparency of the wing's election process.
Earlier, Bersatu Youth assistant secretary Muhammad Faiz Rahmad reportedly demanded clarification from the party election committee (JPP) on whether this election process was influenced by personal agendas or interference by specific individuals.
Additionally, the candidate for Bersatu's Srikandi Muda chief position, Nurul Fadzilah Kamaruddin, expressed her disappointment with the problematic election process, which she claimed led to last-minute changes to the original outcome.
Fadzilah, a former Srikandi Muda Bersatu chief, was reportedly shocked by the JPP's decision to delay announcing the Srikandi Muda results on the voting night (Saturday) despite having been informed of her victory.
In the three-way race, she lost to Kapar Bersatu chief Nurul Ezzati Azmi.
Tawfik added that Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin's victory as Srikandi Malaysia chief indicates a looming leadership clash within Bersatu.
"Mas Ermieyati is from Hamzah's faction, highlighting the intensifying Azmin and Hamzah split within the party leadership," he said.
Meanwhile, political analyst Dr Azmi Hassan from the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research (NASR) believed Bersatu is at a vulnerable point, worsened by the rift between Azmin and Hamzah's factions.
"The protests following Bersatu's wing elections stem from the Azmin and Hamzah factions' conflict.
"We see Srikandi aligned with Hamzah's faction, while Hilman, appointed as Bersatu Youth Chief, is known to be very close to Azmin.
"So, the post-election protests could further fragment Bersatu, already in a weakened state," he said.
He added that the core issue in the Bersatu committee election is determining which faction will dominate the party.
"The 20 members of the Bersatu Supreme Council will decide which faction - Azmin's or Hamzah's - will control the party.
"However, Azmin may face obstacles due to alleged corruption scandals involving the Selangor Menteri Besar Incorporation (MBI) and reports of substantial hidden cash. This could make it harder for Azmin's faction to secure the 20 Supreme Council seats.
"Similarly, if Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu fails to win one of the three vice president posts, it's likely Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is expected to retain the presidency, will appoint Faizal, who has made significant sacrifices, as secretary-general over Azmin," he said.
He said that if this situation unfolds, Bersatu is expected to further weaken due to uncontainable internal divisions.