PETALING JAYA: Bersatu has summoned its deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin over allegations that he was involved in efforts to sabotage the party and tarnish the image of its president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Hamzah and four party division leaders have also been summoned to a disciplinary board hearing this Thursday.
An internal Bersatu notice dated Feb 6 said the party would make a final decision if they fail to attend.
This was stated in a notice to Hamzah, who is Opposition Leader and Larut MP, and signed by the party’s disciplinary board chairman Datuk Mohd Radzi Manan.
The notice said the summons was issued because Bersatu believed there had been attempts to sabotage the party and tarnish the image of Muhyiddin.
“The respondent is alleged to have been involved in planning for the following purposes: collecting statutory declarations (SD) by manipulating the arrangements of the Gopeng Retreat, planning to sabotage the 2025 annual general assembly, thwarting the motion for debate to retain Muhyiddin as the 11th Prime Minister candidate from Bersatu and to retain the party presidency.
“On Jan 28, the respondent made a public statement stating, ‘I wasn’t even invited, so how could I be expected to attend?’, while responding to media inquiries at the Dewan Rakyat.
“This statement has tarnished the image of the party president and the party as a whole,” it said.
The “respondent” is believed to be referring to Hamzah.
The hearing is expected to be held at the party’s headquarters in Menara Yayasan Selangor here.
In separate notices to the four dated Feb 7 – Ahmad Nasir Mid (Selayang), Abdul Aziz Ismail (Dungun), Zulkifli Bujang (Johor Baru) and Ramlan Meon (Tangga Batu) – they were summoned for different incidents.
They were alleged to have attempted to undermine Muhyiddin as the president and supported Hamzah.
All four division chiefs were instructed to attend separate hearings at the party headquarters on the same day as Hamzah’s hearing.
The latest developments came amid escalating internal tensions within Bersatu as party leaders gathered last night at Muhyiddin’s house.
Although billed as a religious get-together ahead of Ramadan, sources claimed the gathering is likely to carry far heavier political weight.
An insider said the gathering was Muhyiddin’s second meeting with party leaders since Friday, as he moves to consolidate support within Bersatu.
“The cracks are already visible. Moving before the fasting month is seen as necessary to stop the cracks within Perikatan Nasional,” the source said.
In recent months, the fallout between Muhyiddin and Hamzah has been public, with both camps intensifying media attacks against each other.
Last October, Hamzah was summoned by the disciplinary board for the first time for “allegedly conspiring to disrupt the general assembly”.
However, he failed to appear.
Bersatu supreme council members Datuk Jasri Jamaludin and Mohd Yazid Mohd Yunus said the issue had escalated as Hamzah’s name remained linked to alleged internal movements.
The duo, said to be from the Muhyiddin camp, added that Hamzah should firmly deny the claims if they are untrue.
Kota Melaka division chief Datuk Hishamuddin Abdul Karim called for tough action against alleged party traitors, while Kuala Selangor chief Datuk Harisson Hassan urged a thorough, transparent and independent probe on Hamzah.
However, former Pahang Bersatu chief Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah hit out at Muhyiddin, accusing him of abusing the party’s disciplinary board to cling to power.
He also urged him to resign as president.
The Star has reached out to Hamzah, who is said to be abroad, but he has yet to respond as of press time.
