Hishammuddin says ready to face Umno disciplinary board but it needs to get act together first

Former Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein speaking to the vegetable seller during his walkabout at Sunday Market during Kimanis by-election. - ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE / THE STAR

BEAUFORT: Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein says he is ready to face the Umno disciplinary board under a new chairman should they call him in, reiterating that he has nothing to hide.

The former party vice-president said he would come forward if it was the only way for Umno to progress but reminded the board that it needed to get its act together on its next course of action.

“I have already said that I have nothing to hide, if they want to investigate me, by all means do so.

“Which members of the board that want to investigate is not my problem, they have to get their act together and they have to appoint whoever that needs to be done. They also have to decide whether they want to call me or not.

“I have no problem facing them because I feel that I have not done anything wrong, ” he said when asked if he would cooperate should Umno appoint a new disciplinary board chairman following Tan Sri Apandi Ali’s resignation late last month.

He was speaking to the media after a walkabout on the Barisan Nasional campaign trail at the tamu (weekly market) in Membakut on Sunday (Jan 12).

On claims that party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is stopping the investigation to save him from being expelled, Hishammuddin retorted, “Save me? I already said I don’t mind going, so I do not think that is an issue... If what they claimed I have done affects the party, Ahmad Zahid will do whatever it takes to make sure the matter has been cleared.

“I want Umno to move forward - as long as there are things that are still hindering us from looking ahead, Umno will never progress, ” he said.

Meanwhile on the Kimanis by-election, Hishammuddin said the campaign had been running smoothly based on what he had seen since he came over on Friday (Jan 10), and believed no untoward incidents would occur.

“Barisan needs to work hard and for us from the peninsular, we do not know the sentiments of Kimanis (folks) until we spend a few days here.

“But what I found is that the aspirations of the folks here, what they want for the future of their children is similar to us, ” he added.

On Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin coming here to explain the background of the Sabah Temporary Pass (PSS), which was an idea conceived by Barisan when they were in power, Hishammuddin said it was a desperate move.

“As any Barisan project that they continued, they never credited us. But when things they implement are not accepted by the people, they blame us. Their stand is not consistent, ” he said.