PETALING JAYA: Only one out of 12 Bersatu leaders and members summoned attended a disciplinary hearing at the party's headquarters here.
Opposition Leader and Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin was among those absent.
"I am still in Sydney," Hamzah said when contacted on Wednesday (Feb 11).
The sole person who attended the disciplinary board hearing on Thursday (Feb 12) was Hulu Langat Bersatu information chief Shafiq Abdul Halim, who was charged with trying to undermine and sabotage Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
When met after the hearing, Shafiq claimed that his freedom of speech had been curtailed by the summons from the board.
"Freedom of speech within the party is gone. I also do not understand why we are not allowed to support PAS, which is a partner (of Bersatu) in Perikatan Nasional.
He said Bersatu cannot deny the existence of two camps – one led by secretary-general Datuk Seri Azmin Ali and another led by Hamzah.
"The problem is … both want to be the main leader of the party. This is how the internal cracks began," said Shafiq.
Also called in were two Bersatu supreme council members Datuk Zainol Fadzi Paharudin and Yunus Nurdin.
Several division chiefs were also summoned, including Ahmad Ishak (Gopeng), Mohd Yunus Mohd Yusof (Tapah), Kamaruddin Majid (Teluk Intan), Datuk Zulkifli Bujang (Johor Bahru), Dr Mohd Yadzil Yaakub (Jasin), Ahmad Nasir Mid (Selayang), Mohd Hassuandi Hamzah (Larut), Abdul Aziz Ismail (Dungun), Ramlan Meon (Tangga Batu) and Sabah Bersatu Women's Youth chief Nabila Norsahar.
On Feb 6, Bersatu summoned Hamzah and four other division leaders to appear before the disciplinary board on Feb 12.
Among the reasons listed were allegedly sabotaging and tarnishing the image of the party and its president.
