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SHAH ALAM - Bersatu's student wing has called for sweeping changes to the party's strategy following its wipeout in the 16th Negeri Sembilan state election, including urging the party not to contest the upcoming Melaka polls and to abandon personal attacks against political rivals.
In a statement issued today, Siswa Bersatu said the party's post-election review must go beyond identifying campaign weaknesses and instead address deeper structural and strategic issues if Bersatu hopes to remain relevant ahead of the 16th General Election (GE16).
The statement came in response to Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali's announcement that the party would conduct a post-mortem following its poor electoral performance.
While reaffirming its loyalty to Bersatu, the student wing said such loyalty should not be mistaken for unconditional support and urged the party's Central Supreme Leadership Council (MPT) to undertake immediate introspection.
Among its key recommendations was a call for Bersatu to sit out the upcoming Melaka state election and instead give full support to the Barisan Nasional-Perikatan Nasional (BN-PN) alliance under the Gelombang Biru (Blue Wave) banner.
The movement also urged the party to move away from politics centred on personal attacks, arguing that Bersatu should instead focus on issues that directly affect voters, including economic development, infrastructure and the rising cost of living.
In addition, Siswa Bersatu called for greater youth representation within the party by proposing the appointment of two university student representatives to the MPT.
Looking ahead to GE16, the student wing also proposed a nationwide engagement programme and urged the leadership to base candidate selection on electability, incumbency and grassroots support within individual constituencies.
Despite its criticism, Siswa Bersatu reiterated its commitment to the party, saying Bersatu should retain its logo and continue pursuing a strategy that positions it as a key political force capable of shaping future governments.
Earlier, the student wing also congratulated the BN-PN coalition on securing an absolute majority of 24 seats to form the Negeri Sembilan government and thanked party workers and candidates for their efforts throughout the state election campaign.
