Hisham to Harapan leaders: Backdoor gov't? Talk to your PM

Umno's Sembrong MP Hishammuddin Hussein said Pakatan Harapan leaders accusing him of trying to form a backdoor government should talk to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Hishammuddin (above), who was initially asked if he supported Mahathir to serve a full term as prime minister, said: "The prime minister is their (Harapan) leader, not mine. They should be talking to their prime minister".

However, he went on to add: "All this backdoor government and all that, you need the support of the prime minister.

"Even if there is proof (to form a new government), at the end of the day, they need to talk to the prime minister as Mahathir is their leader.

"So why blame Umno, BN and Sembrong?" he told journalists at the Parliament lobby today.

Hishammuddin added that if Harapan indeed have proof of attempts to form a new government through defections, it only goes to show that the coalition is facing internal problems.

"It doesn't affect me, I've got nothing to lose. It's only them and it makes them look weak. It makes them look as if they are not solid.

"If there is a move to form a government, if (Harapan secretary-general) Saifuddin Abdullah says there's proof, it shows that there is something internally wrong with them.

"If they are solid and strong, what is there to be afraid?" He said.

'Sort out your own problems'

At present, the opposition does not have the numbers to form the government unless there are defections from the ruling coalition.

The former Umno vice president said Harapan should not turn him, Umno or BN into scapegoats.

Hishammuddin was referring to Harapan's accusation that he is trying to scuttle Harapan's transition plan from Mahathir to PKR president Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister by recruiting MPs to form a new government without the participation of DAP and Amanah.

He also dismissed speculation that the formation of a new government is linked to Umno's own internal leadership struggle.

"The reality is the Umno leadership will be determined by Umno members," he said.

Hishammuddin accused Harapan of fearing its own shadow and changing the goalposts on the allegations against him.

"It shows that maybe - I am not saying that it is - maybe they are very insecure and their insecurity is internal.

"It has nothing to do with us. Don't turn Umno, BN and Sembrong into scapegoats. You have to sort out your own problems internally," he said. - Mkini