A former Bersatu lawmaker aligned with Larut MP Hamzah Zainudin has claimed that the party may be “outvoted” at the next Perikatan Nasional supreme council meeting.
Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal told Malaysiakini that the top leaders of Bersatu, PAS, Gerakan, and the Malaysian Indian People's Party (MIPP) will vote on Hamzah and his supporters’ intention to remain aligned with PN after the former Bersatu number two was sacked.
“If the majority decides to accept Hamzah’s (group), then who is Bersatu to question? Bersatu must remember that 19 MPs (in Hamzah’s faction), including Hamzah, have declared support for PN.
“If Bersatu wants to block us, but PAS wants to accept us, who is Bersatu to stop PAS and others from accepting us?” asked Wan Fayhsal (above).
Since his sacking from Bersatu on Feb 14, Hamzah has launched his “Reset” movement but consistently remained coy about his political plans, beyond referencing a “new home” that he intends to keep aligned with the federal opposition.
In a media interview, the former minister also indicated readiness to lead a “new political vessel” ahead of the looming election.
Apart from the support of many Bersatu division members, Hamzah has claimed the support of 18 current, sacked, and suspended MPs from the party, leaving Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin with the remaining five.
“At the moment, Hamzah is supported by 130 former Bersatu divisions, which were ‘dissolved’ earlier. Bersatu is barren at the moment,” claimed Wan Fayhsal.
Muhyiddin and Bersatu secretary-general Azmin Ali, as well as others aligned to the remaining leadership, have maintained that the party remains solid with new faces named to replace those who have left.
On Sunday, PN chairperson Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, who is also a PAS vice-president, confirmed Hamzah’s resignation as the parliamentary opposition leader, and that the coalition’s secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan will submit a formal notification to the Dewan Rakyat.
“Once we submit the notification letter, it is automatic that Hamzah is no longer the opposition leader… I think by the time the next Dewan Rakyat sitting resumes, we will have a new opposition leader,” said Samsuri, who declined to confirm whether a PAS MP will replace Hamzah.
The parliamentary opposition leader is a minister-level post, and comes complete with perks.
New party, new home
Commenting on Hamzah’s resignation, Wan Fayhsal described the decision as a “bold and brave move” that took into account PN’s overall interest.
“PN must not be seen bickering over the opposition leader’s position, as Bersatu had painted it as such. Hamzah showed great magnanimity in stepping down because he is no longer a PN member.
“As for what we will do next, as explained by Hamzah, he will rejoin PN through a new party. Whether it will be an existing party such as PAS, Gerakan, or MIPP - not Bersatu - is still uncertain.
“But what is certain is that he will return to PN, and we will follow him,” said Wan Fayhsal, adding that the return could also be through a previously rumoured entity called Parti Keluarga Malaysia.
“So far, I have been informed that there has been a positive reception from component parties, except Bersatu,” he added, alluding to recent criticism by Bersatu information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz.
For the record, while Gerakan is a multiracial party, MIPP only accepts Indian Malaysians as members.
On Sunday, Tun Faisal claimed that Hamzah’s remarks on his political “home” reflected the politician’s “arrogance” and warned existing “home owners” to be wary of attempts to evict them.
“When people hear Hamzah’s arrogant remarks, many are briefly confused - who actually has a home, who is actually homeless, who only has a small following compared to Bersatu’s hundreds of thousands of members?
“Who is actually looking for a home, and who said he doesn’t mind entering ‘someone else’s house’ as long as he has one?” Tun Faisal asked.
Separately, Takiyuddin said while PAS is ready to accept Hamzah as a member, standard procedures still apply, and the party has yet to receive any application.
“Hamzah has to apply first, then we will make a decision.
“That is the normal procedure,” Takiyuddin said in Kota Bharu on Sunday, according to Sinar Harian.
Anti-hopping concern
Wan Fayhsal conceded there were “technical issues” to be verified with the Dewan Rakyat speaker, including whether a formal announcement of support for another party before Parliament is dissolved would cause MPs to lose their seats through anti-hopping provisions.
“I leave it to my boss (Hamzah) to plan things. I will follow him,” he said when quizzed on the matter.
Apart from Hamzah and Wan Fayhsal, the sacked Bersatu MPs include Wan Saiful Wan Jan (Tasek Gelugor), Saifuddin Abdullah (Temerloh), Fathul Huzir Ayob (Gerik), and Azahari Hassan (Padang Rengas).
Those suspended include former vice-president Ronald Kiandee (Beluran) and former Women’s chief Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (Masjid Tanah). - Mkini
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