BERSATU EXPELS DEPUTY PRESIDENT HAMZAH ZAINUDIN

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 13 (Bernama) -- Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin has been expelled from the party with immediate effect.

Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, in a statement, said that the party’s Supreme Council had been informed of the decision by the Disciplinary Board, which ruled that Hamzah’s membership rights be terminated under Clause 22.5 of the Bersatu constitution.

He said the decision was made after the Larut member of parliament was found to have breached Clause 9.1.4 of the party constitution.

Hamzah had won the deputy president post unopposed for the 2024–2027 term after no challenger emerged during the party elections in October last year.

Bersatu, a member of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, has been gripped by an internal crisis marked by a rift between the camps aligned with its president, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, and Hamzah, with both sides reportedly calling for the other to step down.

The conflict intensified after Muhyiddin resigned as PN chairman, a move that opened the way for an internal power struggle between the two main factions.

In November last year, Hamzah was reported as saying that Muhyiddin would relinquish the party presidency when he was ready.

Recent turmoil within Bersatu has also been linked to efforts to position Hamzah as party president.

Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan was expelled from the party over his alleged involvement in the issue and later released an audio recording of Bersatu’s disciplinary board proceedings against him on Nov 3, which he claimed supported allegations that Hamzah was the real target.

Yesterday, media reports said 17 Bersatu division chiefs and party leaders in Johor had called for Hamzah to be expelled from both his party post and membership.

Today, 16 Bersatu MPs voiced support for a call by the party’s chief whip, Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee, for Muhyiddin to step down immediately as party president.

Meanwhile, the party also expelled five more members, namely Supreme Council member Yunus Nurdin, Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, Gerik MP Fathul Huzir Ayob, Padang Rengas MP Azahari Hasan and Mohd Hassundi Hamzah of the Larut division. 

According to the expulsion notices issued, the action was taken under Clause 22.5 of the Bersatu Constitution for breaches of Clause 9.1.4.

In a related development, Bersatu Armada information chief Harris Idaham Rashid said in a statement that the youth wing respects the decision of the party’s disciplinary board and stressed that all members are obliged to uphold internal discipline.

“This demonstrates that Bersatu does not compromise with any leader or member who clearly violates the party’s constitution and code of conduct,” the statement read.

--BERNAMA