Hishammuddin prepared to face music over 'betrayal' claim

 

Former Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein is willing to face the music for his alleged “betrayal” of the party by backing Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin as the 10th prime minister.

“If they (party) want to take action, carry on... I have nothing to worry about,” he said.

Met at the sidelines of the Umno general assembly at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur today, the Sembrong MP said his stance is similar to the one voiced by Jelebu MP Jalaluddin Alias yesterday.

Hishammuddin (above) and Jalaluddin are among the 10 BN MPs who reportedly inked statutory declarations (SD) supporting Muhyiddin as PM following the political stalemate after the 15th general election, in what is dubbed the “St Regis Move”.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi claimed the move also sought to remove him as BN chairperson.

Jalaluddin, who is Umno supreme council member, had said that signing the SD was not an act of betrayal as the decision was made then according to the party narrative. Furthermore, the 10 MPs had withdrawn the SDs after Umno decided to work with Pakatan Harapan in the government, he said.

Chart the way forward

Elaborating, Hishammuddin said he was still consistent with his stance that working with Harapan goes against the party’s resolution.

According to him, he withdrew the SD supporting Muhyiddin upon the party’s orders and agreed with the party’s decision.

“Therefore, the question of betraying (Umno) does not arise.”

He stressed that Umno is better off discussing other pressing matters during the general assembly, which concludes tomorrow.

“We lost in the general election. I hope we can discuss the way forward for the party and how the party can bridge the gap between the party and its supporters.

“Discussions to that effect are better than using this platform to fight and attack each other, and point fingers.”

Hishammuddin said while he welcomed Zahid’s announcement that he had forgiven the 10 MPs over the matter, he is still lost for words over the “traitor” badge hanging over his head. - Mkini