A disruptive incident marred Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin’s keynote speech at the party’s general assembly on Saturday night, prompting youth chief Hilman Idham to describe the episode as a source of embarrassment that tarnished the party’s reputation.
During his address, Muhyiddin revealed that a faction within the party had been gathering signatures to challenge his leadership. The disclosure triggered a commotion when a small group of delegates heckled him, shouting calls for his resignation. However, the majority of attendees countered with chants of “Hidup Tan Sri” in a show of support for the embattled leader.
Hilman, addressing delegates during his closing speech on Sunday, September 7, 2025, shared that Muhyiddin expressed his dismay in a rare message to the party’s Supreme Council WhatsApp group, calling the incident “very embarrassing.”
“What happened last night cannot be denied. The media witnessed everything,” Hilman said. “We must take responsibility because we disappointed our president yesterday.”
He expressed personal regret over the event, noting Muhyiddin’s typically reserved presence in the group chat. “After the incident, I went out for a drink and told my friends I couldn’t bear the sadness because we had hurt our president so much that he felt compelled to message the Supreme Council WhatsApp group,” Hilman recounted.
Muhyiddin, in his speech, cautioned that using signature campaigns to oust a president could set a precedent for targeting other party leaders at various levels. The warning underscored the internal tensions threatening party unity.
Hilman urged Bersatu members to rally behind Muhyiddin as the party prepares for the upcoming 16th general election (GE16). “God willing, Muhyiddin, as our prime minister candidate, will lead us to victory in the next general election,” he declared, emphasizing the need for solidarity to strengthen the party’s position.
The incident highlights the challenges facing Bersatu as it navigates internal dissent while positioning itself for future electoral battles.
