Hishammuddin gives his take on cousin Najib's Johor campaign

 

JOHOR POLLS | Ex-prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's high profile campaign in the Johor polls has sparked a debate about whether a man convicted of criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of power will be a boon or bane for BN.

Najib's allies, such as Johor Umno chief Nur Jazlan Mohamed, has been unabashed about pushing the leader accused of corruption but the ex-prime minister's cousin Hishammuddin Hussein, who is seen to be in a different camp, has been more reserved.

Hishammuddin's immediate reaction, when asked if Najib's presence will have an impact on BN's campaign, was "I don't know", but added that every bit of help counts.

"Most importantly is everybody wants to help. Whether it's controversial or not depends on the individual.

"What is important right now is not the people out there, the spin on social media or whatever controversy they want to create.

"What is important are the voters who are the ones who are going to make a difference in Paloh and Kahang," said the Sembrong MP.

Hishammuddin joined the BN campaign today by accompanying MCA's Lee Ting Han in Paloh. Paloh and Kahang are state seats within the parliamentary constituency of Sembrong, where Hishammuddin has been the MP since it was created in 2004.

"If you're not voters here it doesn't matter what is said on social media or what controversy is brought up by individuals," he added.

Hishammuddin said his priority is on ensuring a positive and constructive campaign.

No negative campaigns

"As far as my machinery is concerned, I've instructed them not to carry out any negative campaigns.

"We don't want a situation where we win at the end of the day but we are fractured and divided in an area that is multiracial like Sembrong, Kahang and Paloh," he said.

Hishammuddin, who was Umno vice-president, took a backseat after Najib's government was ousted in the 2018 general election amid the 1MDB scandal.

He chose not to contest in the Umno polls after the general election although he was implicated as being among the Umno leaders negotiating with Bersatu on the formation of a new government to replace the Pakatan Harapan government that was elected in 2018.

Hishammuddin returned as the foreign minister under Muhyiddin Yassin's government and later as the defence minister under Ismail Sabri Yaakob's government, following the collapse of the Harapan administration in 2020.

Apart from Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan, Hishammuddin is also seen as a possible a future Umno president candidate.

Court cluster

This was due to Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi currently facing 47 counts of money laundering, criminal breach of trust and bribery over tens of millions of ringgit belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi, a charitable organisation Zahid founded.

Zahid is also facing 40 charges of bribery involving more than RM43 million for the Foreign Visa System.

Meanwhile, Najib is appealing his 12-year jail sentence and RM210 million fine for the misappropriation of funds owned by SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former 1MDB subsidiary.

Najib is seen to be aligned with Zahid. While their critics want to limit the role of these leaders who are facing graft related cases in court, these same leaders who are referred to as "court cluster" are determined to consolidate their position.

They have been trying to squeeze Perikatan Nasional out of power so that BN can gain dominance on its own again. They are responsible for ousting Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin as the prime minister last year. Hishammuddin was not part of the group. - Mkini