Six years ago, the Universiti Malaya Alumni Clubhouse set the scene for what would lead to Larut MP Hamzah Zainudin’s rise in Bersatu, who was then the party’s secretary-general.
It was there, in June 2020, that Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin chaired a party supreme council meeting to finalise the sacking of founding president Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his allies.
Four months prior, Mahathir had resigned as prime minister. With the subsequent Sheraton Move, Muhyiddin was named prime minister, and Hamzah became the home minister and was elected Bersatu deputy president later that year.
However, Hamzah’s return to the clubhouse today comes a day after he and 16 other party leaders and lawmakers were sacked for allegedly trying to topple Muhyiddin and tarnish the party’s image.
Hundreds of supporters, mostly dressed in white, gathered under a call to “reset” the political scene. They raised placards in Bersatu’s red and white colours, printed with the names of individual divisions.
Leading up to the purge, various state Bersatu chiefs had declared support for Muhyiddin, but in each state, Hamzah had garnered the support of individual division chiefs and members.
Hamzah took the stage as the final speaker and accepted a symbolic “Kuala Lumpur Declaration” from Bersatu vice-president Ronald Kiandee, representing Hamzah’s supporters who remain in the party.
Ronald, the gathering’s organiser, has so far been spared disciplinary action.
Enemy number one
In a fiery speech, Hamzah declared that he will not appeal against his sacking.
“I want to inform everyone that I truly did not know what was happening. I was expelled because I did not know.
“I was expelled for failing to control something I did not even know about. What kind of nonsense is this? What sort of ghosts are haunting Bersatu?” he said.
“Enough is enough. At the Bersatu AGM, I stood up and said that I was the number one supporter of the president.
“Today I want to tell the president - I am now the number one opponent of the Bersatu president,” he said to cheers from the floor.
Earlier, Hamzah reminded Muhyiddin that he remains the parliamentary opposition leader.
“I will keep fighting together with my colleagues.
“What do the people want? The people want leadership for the sake of their future. They need those who are sincere and honest to put in effort.
“The people do not want the son of a religious teacher, they do not want the son of a cleric - they want a leader who understands and can see the problems faced by those at the grassroots,” he stressed.
Sleeping with the enemy
In a jab at Muhyiddin, Hamzah referenced findings by think-tank Institut Masa Depan Malaysia (Masa) that recorded an increase in public satisfaction towards Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership and administration.
Pointing out that the think-tank is chaired by Muhyiddin, Hamzah accused the Pagoh MP of plotting to cooperate with Pakatan Harapan.
“If you truly want to conspire, at least be a little discreet about it.
“We need a good strategy. Whoever wants to stand with me, I welcome you all to join me.
“I need friends… if you are my friends, come and join me!” he said.
Apart from Bersatu members and division leaders, Ronald, as well as Masjid Tanah MP Mas Ermieyatie Samsudin, also expressed support for Hamzah in their speeches.
A line-up of former Bersatu leaders and lawmakers sacked in yesterday’s purge also sat on the main stage today. - Mkini
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