The division, led by Badrul Hisham Shaharin, proposed that Hamzah, currently Bersatu deputy president, take over as the party’s “main leader”, with vice-president Radzi Jidin handling the party’s administrative matters.
Bersatu’s administrative affairs are currently handled by its secretary-general, Azmin Ali.
“Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin would then be made an adviser and mentor,” said the motion, which did not explicitly suggest that Hamzah take over the Bersatu presidency.
The motion was tabled by Port Dickson Bersatu deputy chief Akkil Aizat Othman at the division’s annual general meeting yesterday.
Akkil also said Bersatu failed to grab the golden opportunity of championing the people amid purported missteps by the government in managing the country.
He said Bersatu needed to be more aggressive in its work while reforming the party’s disciplinary and communications systems.
Badrul told FMT the motion – one of four that were unanimously approved by the division – was aimed at proposing strategic changes for Bersatu ahead of the next general election (GE16).
Akkil, meanwhile, said the motion was not simply to reject Muhyiddin’s leadership but because Bersatu needed stability and a clearer direction in the lead-up to GE16.
He said the party had been “too slow” as the next nationwide polls were fast approaching.
“We respect Muhyiddin’s wisdom, but our view is that Bersatu needs to champion issues close to the people right now, because they are looking for a party that would do that,” he said.
There had been speculation over the last few months that some factions want Hamzah to take over as Bersatu president, while others aligned with Azmin insist that Muhyiddin should remain in the post.
More recently, it was reported that PAS had proposed restructuring Perikatan Nasional to make Hamzah the head of an executive committee that manages the coalition’s day-to-day affairs.
Under the reported plan, the presidents of PAS, Bersatu, Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party would form an advisory council instead while retaining their roles on the PN Supreme Council.
Hamzah dismissed the speculation as “nonsensical stories” spread by outsiders seeking to divide Bersatu and PN.
Yesterday, Muhyiddin denied that PAS was trying to unseat him as PN chairman, saying the party’s president, Abdul Hadi Awang, had personally expressed support for him to stay on in the post at a meeting several months ago.