Bersatu Kudat Division Dissolves After 19 Committee Members Resign Over Leadership Dispute

KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 — The Kudat division of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) in Sabah has officially been dissolved after 19 members of its divisional committee resigned with immediate effect, leaving the party branch without a functioning leadership structure.

The resignations include several key figures within the division such as Deputy Permanent Chairman Sainol Tanjilul, Kudat deputy chief Zulkifli Nordin, Srikandi chief Rainah Sakout, secretary Suaimi Suliman, treasurer Kalintong Tandok, and information chief Rojinal Mandawai, along with 11 other committee members.

The move effectively dissolves the Bersatu Kudat division because the majority of its leadership committee has stepped down simultaneously, making it impossible for the division to continue operating under its current structure.

Leadership Tensions Behind Resignations

According to Muhammad Affan Jumahat, the deputy of Bersatu Sabah’s Leadership Liaison Body and also the Kudat division chief, the resignations came after careful consideration and were driven by dissatisfaction with recent leadership decisions within the party.

He explained that the members were uncomfortable with what they described as the abrupt removal of several elected representatives and division leaders.

The group also opposed actions that they believed contradicted earlier decisions made by the party’s Supreme Leadership Council (MPT).

Affan said the council had previously decided on January 12 to postpone disciplinary actions against members who made statements concerning Bersatu’s founding president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin prior to that date.

However, according to him, recent developments within the party appeared to contradict that earlier resolution.

Formal Notice Submitted to Party Leadership

Affan confirmed that the group had formally notified Bersatu’s leadership regarding the mass resignation.

A letter explaining the decision was submitted to Bersatu Secretary-General Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali on March 3.

With the departure of the 19 committee members, the divisional leadership structure has effectively collapsed, triggering the automatic dissolution of the Kudat branch.

Political Implications

The dissolution of the Kudat division reflects ongoing tensions within certain party structures in Sabah, where political alignments and party loyalties have shifted frequently in recent years.

Analysts note that internal disagreements over leadership decisions and disciplinary actions can sometimes trigger wider political changes within local party branches.

While the immediate impact remains limited to the Kudat division, the development could raise questions about internal unity within Bersatu’s regional organisation in Sabah.

For now, the party’s central leadership has yet to issue a detailed response on how it plans to reorganise the division or rebuild its presence in Kudat following the mass resignation.