PETALING JAYA: Party dissenters aligned with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia have launched a “blackout” campaign on social media in an apparent protest against the leadership of party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

A check on social media found Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir and Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah, whose party membership status are being disputed at present, had changed their respective profile pictures to a Bersatu logo with the trademark red turned black.

The two were among the five MPs, including Dr Mahathir, who had their party membership nullified for joining the Opposition bench during the May 18 Parliamentary meeting.

The “blackout” campaign was launched on Tuesday (June 16) night with several images of the Bersatu logo that had its red background changed to black circulating on social media.

Other party supreme council members aligned with Dr Mahathir’s faction such as Tariq Ismail and Ulya Aqamah Husamuddin also changed their respective display pictures with the black logo.

According to Tariq, the “blackout” Bersatu logo was approved by Dr Mahathir on Tuesday (June 16) night as a sign of support for the nonagenarian’s leadership.

He called on those who supported Dr Mahathir’s leadership to change their respective social media display pictures to the “blackout” Bersatu logo.

He said this is a sign of protest for Bersatu members who remained “united, principled and honourable so that the party can be restored in the right direction again”.

Among others who shared pictures of the black Bersatu logo were social media pages and other party leaders aligned with Dr Mahathir.

Bersatu has been embroiled in a civil war following Muhyiddin’s decision to work with Barisan Nasional, PAS, Gabungan Parti Sarawak as well as Sabah's PBS and STAR to form the Perikatan Nasional government, which is opposed by Dr Mahathir.

The former prime minister and five other Bersatu leaders had filed a suit to challenge a decision to nullify their party membership.

They are also seeking to nullify the membership of Muhyiddin, Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin and organising secretary Kapt (Rtd) Muhammad Suhaimi Yahya for joining the Perikatan government.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/06/17/dr-ms-faction-launches-blackout-bersatu-campaign-against-muhyiddin