Kiandee confirms majority of Bersatu MPs back Hamzah as opposition leader

 The party’s chief whip says they have reached a collective decision to endorse Hamzah Zainudin' retention in the position.

In a letter to the PN chief whip, Ronald Kiandee (left) said 13 Bersatu MPs support keeping Hamzah Zainudin as the opposition leader.

PETALING JAYA:

 Bersatu chief whip Ronald Kiandee has confirmed the contents of a letter sent to Perikatan Nasional chief whip Takiyuddin Hassan, stating that a majority of Bersatu’s MPs support retaining Hamzah Zainudin as the opposition leader.

In the letter dated Feb 24 sighted by FMT, Kiandee said 13 Bersatu MPs reached a “collective and majority” decision to endorse the Larut MP to continue holding the post, in line with the parliamentary standing orders.

Kiandee confirmed the letter’s authenticity in a brief reply to FMT.

The letter said Bersatu’s MPs would continue focusing on championing public concerns, raising national issues, and acting responsibly as a check and balance, particularly as the current parliamentary meeting nears its end.

An attachment to the letter listed the names of the 13 MPs who backed the decision: Kiandee, Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz, Rosol Wahid, Ku Abd Rahman Ku Ismail, Muslimin Yahaya, Abdul Khalib Abdullah, Khairil Nor, Zakri Hassan, Roslan Hashim, Nordin Ahmad Ismail, Kalam Salan and Islahuddin Abbas.

FMT has reached out to Takiyuddin for comment.

Hamzah was sacked from Bersatu on Feb 13 at the height of a leadership feud with party president Muhyiddin Yassin.

Previously, Takiyuddin, who is also the PAS secretary-general, said PN component parties had agreed that PAS would assume the opposition leader’s role, although he added that the party needed time to identify its candidate.

Last week, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul said Hamzah remained the opposition leader as PN had not formally notified him of any changes.

Hamzah was appointed the opposition leader in 2022 after the unity government was formed, following a proposal by PAS, despite Muhyiddin still being PN chairman at the time. - FMT