INTERVIEW | As the nation braces for changing political winds, sacked Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin has indicated readiness to set sail on a new political vessel ahead of looming elections.
Establishing a position to helm the vessel, Hamzah narrated a journey based on his “Reset” movement, towards a destination to be agreed upon by a majority of those on board.
“If I can be a unifying factor for the benefit of the people, is that wrong? There is nothing wrong with that.
“And I think this is what we are supposed to do if we truly love this country - find someone who can bring everyone together to build this nation collectively,” he said during a joint interview at his “White House” office in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Apart from ordinary members from Bersatu divisions nationwide, in the Dewan Rakyat, Hamzah has claimed the support of 18 current, sacked, and suspended MPs from the party, leaving party president Muhyiddin Yassin with the remaining five.
Hamzah’s “Reset” movement was launched on Feb 14, alongside supporting MPs and grassroots members, a day after his sacking and expulsion from Bersatu.
New ‘national consensus’
Hamzah had also, at the time, expressed hope of seeking a new national consensus.
“What is that consensus? To build this nation together... But to do that, we need capital,” he said yesterday.
“You need groups with integrity and credibility - those that cannot be questioned. That is what we must do.
“That is why I came up with the word ‘Reset’, because it carries a deeper meaning,” he added.
Hamzah’s supporters described the movement as a strategic move to forge a more mature and stable political configuration, one that unites the people across faiths, races, and regions.
Smooth operator
When asked whether his nation-building ambition signalled personal aspirations to become prime minister, Hamzah instead alluded to his reputation as an “operator” better known for internal political dealings.
“As I said before, people have long labelled me as an operator.
“But I once told a friend - (Vladimir) Putin was also an operator before becoming the president of Russia,” he said.
Observers had attributed Hamzah’s reputation as a “political operator” to his alleged role in various manoeuvres, including the 2020 Sheraton Move, which saw Bersatu’s rise to power, with Muhyiddin named as the eighth prime minister.
Since then, Muhyiddin has accused Hamzah of initiating negotiations with Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi without his knowledge, during what has been dubbed the “Bangkok Move” in December last year.
“The journey to achieve something is determined by Allah, so I have no regrets.
“I do this for the people. If the people accept it, then alhamdulillah. But if they do not, I will have no regrets because I have tried,” Hamzah said.
Fleet admiral
Earlier, Hamzah adopted the analogy of an “older, larger, and slow-moving” vessel, as well as a “smaller, modern, technologically advanced” vessel, to form a fleet of battleships of which he would be the “admiral”.
The Larut MP spent over an hour fielding questions on his next political move, but stopped short of announcing a firm plan, which he said could only be expected after the upcoming Hari Raya celebrations.
“How many days is Raya celebrated in Malaysia? Thirty days. That will give me at least another 30 days to prepare an announcement,” he quipped.
Hamzah, however, confirmed that he would not be returning to either of the “older, slower” vessels he had left, alluding to Umno and Bersatu as part of BN and Perikatan Nasional.
“That’s why I said, a big ship can sometimes become too heavy - it needs other ships to help support it.
“So in that struggle, as an admiral who can be anywhere across the ships, he can give instructions to the fleet to continue fighting in the battle.
“I can be on any of the ships (in the fleet), but not necessarily on the original ship. That’s what I’m trying to explain,” he said.
Team player
Asked if he sees himself as being capable of “bridging the ships”, Hamzah indicated that uniting BN and PN in a larger single coalition of Malay-based parties is a crucial step towards lasting political stability.
“To do that, it can certainly be placed in the hands of someone who can act as a unifying factor.
“I believe I can do that. The media used to call me an operator.
“Is it wrong for me to ‘operate’ another round of action to ensure everyone comes together as one? There’s nothing wrong with that,” he stressed.
Describing himself as a team player, a trait honed during his days on a school rugby team, Hamzah noted that he brings along a crew who were similarly sacked from Bersatu, left of their own accord, or the target of recent suspensions.
“If I were only thinking about myself, it would be very easy - just choose any one of the big ships, jump into it, and stay there.
“But if I have to think about everyone else, is any of these big ships truly ready for the ‘advanced technology’ that I bring?” he said.
Senior Bersatu leaders aligned with Hamzah include Beluran MP Ronald Kiandee and Masjid Tanah MP Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, both suspended from their positions as vice-president and women’s chief. - Mkini
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