Rejecting the notion that Umno’s offer was unappealing, they said the “reset” movement spearheaded by the former Bersatu deputy president appeared stronger, backed by 19 MPs.
Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said the movement had far outgrown Bersatu, which is down to just six MPs.
He also said that Hamzah had the backing of more than 100 division chiefs.
“Indirectly, this ‘reset’ movement has become a powerful force and is even said to have the support of PAS,” he told FMT in comments on Umno’s invitation to Bersatu members following recent developments.
Mazlan also said the prospect of seat allocations could have been factored into the decisions.
“The ‘reset’ movement will demand the seats that Bersatu previously contested,” he said.
On May 8, Bersatu’s disciplinary board sacked two state assemblymen – Dzowahir Ab Ghani (Suka Menanti) and Abdul Razak Khamis (Sungai Tiang) – and suspended five MPs and two assemblymen for allegedly violating the party’s constitution and its code of ethics.
The suspended MPs are Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (Tanah Merah), Rosol Wahid (Hulu Terengganu), Khlir Nor (Ketereh), Nordin Ahmad Ismail (Lumut), and Khalib Abdullah (Rompin).
The two suspended assemblymen are Syed Lukman Hakim Syed Mohd Zain (Chenderoh) and Ahmad Man (Kuala Sepetang). Bersatu’s Hulu Langat division chief Faiz Rahmad was also sacked.
Abdul Razak subsequently rebuffed Umno’s unconditional membership offer, hinting that he would instead join a “new political home” linked to Hamzah.
In an earlier round of a so-called party purge, Bersatu sacked Hamzah, along with 16 others, including MPs Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (Machang), Azahari Hasan (Padang Rengas), and Fathul Huzir Ayob (Gerik), and assemblymen Zainol Fadzi Paharudin (Sungai Manik) and Dr Yadzil Yaakub (Bemban).
Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri of Global Asia Consulting said Umno’s association with DAP in the unity government was making it a hard sell to Bersatu’s displaced members.
“As long as Umno remains in this framework, former Bersatu leaders will find it difficult to convince grassroots members that they are returning to a consistent Malay-Islamic struggle,” he said.
He also noted a perception that supporters of the “reset” movement had a closer relationship with PAS.
“This makes the ‘reset’ movement more attractive to those who want to remain relevant without the political compromise of being with DAP,” he said.
He added that Malay voter sentiment remained with Perikatan Nasional (PN).
“Electoral data shows the majority of Malay votes remains with PN, which consistently carries the Malay-Islamic bloc narrative,” he said.