SHAH ALAM: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) needs to get one more million members in the next one year, as the party needs to be strengthened at its base, says party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Urging the party to return to its vigorous membership drive in its early days, Muhyiddin said that the current grassroots divisions with 7,000 branches need to be multiplied to 12,000 to accommodate these new members.

The former prime minister and Pagoh MP said this in his closing speech on the last day of the Bersatu AGM held on Saturday (Nov 25), at IDCC here.

"The push for membership has now waned as compared to its early days. Bersatu needs to strengthen itself and we must not weaken the base.

"The many speeches at this AGM and the motions put forward showed that this is an unusual annual general assembly as it has shown the strong spirit of love for this party.

"It is not even a decade old but it has gained the support of the Malays.

"We cannot be compared to PAS as they are seven decades old.

"In one year, we must find one more million members.

"Without us, (our Perikatan Nasional component) PAS would not be where it is. Neither would we be anywhere without PAS. This is because we need each other.

"There should be no limits to membership. Follow the party constitution, for we cannot stop anyone from being a member.

"In such a short period, our struggle and policies have been accepted by the Malays during the general election, state elections and by-elections.

"However, the number of non-Malays in the associate wings is not enough," said Muhyiddin.

In his closing speech, he also proposed that the advisor role be reenacted in the party constitution.

"Bersatu could also set up an advisory council - akin to the Syura Council of PAS - to do the final vetting of election candidates," said Muhyiddin.

However, these ideas can only be realised if it is made part of the party constitution.