Razali Idris insists he remains Bersatu member despite calls to quit

MARANG: Former Terengganu Bersatu chairman Datuk Razali Idris has stressed that he remains a member of the party despite efforts to pressure him to quit.

He said he had only announced his resignation as Terengganu Bersatu chairman and Marang division chief, and had not quit the party.

"I sent a letter to Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali resigning as Marang division chief on Oct 1.

"I sent my resignation letter as Terengganu Bersatu chairman to president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on July 16," he said.

Razali, who is also a state executive councillor, said this after representing Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar at the launch of the state-level National Environment Day celebration at Pantai Kelulut here today.

On Wednesday, Razali sparked speculation after posting on Facebook that "today I quit" following 10 years in party leadership.

Elaborating, Razali, who is also a state assemblyman, stressed that he remained a Bersatu member to enable him to voice his objections and criticise any wrongdoing by the party leadership.

"I do not need to submit a letter to resign as a party member. My membership will automatically cease when I join another party.

"I would not have resigned if I had not been disappointed with Bersatu, especially over the party leadership's failure to resolve the issue involving Perlis Menteri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah, who resigned as a member of the Supreme Leadership Council in July. It was like stabbing a friend in the back," he said.

Asked about his decision not to quit despite being bound by an oath and bai'ah pledge, as well as a RM10 million penalty, Razali said the oath and bai'ah document was made when he was appointed Bersatu information chief in 2023.

He said the Bersatu bai'ah required members to remain loyal to the party and follow its instructions as long as they did not contradict religious teachings.

"What is happening within Bersatu now is that the leadership is looking for faults and mistakes among its members.

"I am being surrounded by the entire Bersatu leadership as if they are pressuring me to leave the party, but I stress that I remain a party member. I have only resigned as state chairman and Marang division chief," he said.