Muhyiddin is my No. 1 enemy, says sacked Bersatu deputy president Hamzah
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Hamzah Zainuddin (left), who remains Malaysia's opposition leader, said he was unaware of the reasons for his sacking by Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin.
PHOTO: BERITA HARIAN
KUALA LUMPUR – Sacked Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia deputy president Hamzah Zainudin has declared his former leader Muhyiddin Yassin to be his “No. 1 enemy”, saying that he is now a free man to continue his own political struggles.
“My struggles have always been for the party,” he said.
“And now my No. 1 enemy is Tan Sri Muhyiddin,” he added on Feb 14 after speaking at an event called Reset, which was attended by Bersatu members and leaders from several party divisions.
Datuk Seri Hamzah, who is the Larut MP, said he is now focused on his duty as opposition leader in Parliament.
“I will not appeal, as I am now a free man, and I need not listen to orders, which I have to perform unwillingly in the party,” he said.
“I have been sacked, and I will leave the party. I will never submit an appeal,” he added. “If the party no longer needs me, then farewell, Bersatu.”
Mr Hamzah described what had happened to him as a blessing in disguise.
“As of now, I have the support of 19 out of the current 25 Bersatu MPs to continue being the opposition leader,” he said.
“As to whether I am part of Perikatan or not, I am now a free man, but I do not make decisions on my own,” he added, referring to the opposition Perikatan Nasional coalition. “It is not Bersatu that decides who is the opposition leader, but it is the opposition MPs who decide that.”
As supporters holding placards of their division names stood behind Mr Hamzah, he said: “I will not urge my supporters to leave Bersatu, but I call on them to support my new struggle for the nation, of which I am the captain.”
He said he was open to any possibility when asked by reporters if he was willing to return to his old party UMNO, join Parti Islam SeMalaysia or form a new party.
Mr Hamzah said he was unaware of the reasons for his sacking.
Bersatu vice-president Ronald Kiandee, who was also present, said Muhyiddin has failed to show the same statesmanship as Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who “stepped down so that Muhyiddin could be the prime minister”.
“There are 168 active Bersatu divisions, and we have 118 with us now,” said Datuk Seri Kiandee, who is Sabah Bersatu chief. “What does that say for the support for Muhyiddin?”
The Reset event, which Mr Kiandee organised, followed several events that occurred after the Bersatu disciplinary board issued dismissal notices on Feb 13 to 17 members, including Mr Hamzah. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
