What’s so special about Hamzah Zainudin?

PAS has chosen Hamzah and his new party over Bersatu which, according to insider information, may be expelled from Perikatan Nasional before the week is over.

DATUK Seri Hamzah Zainudin almost choked up. His voice grew emotional as he credited PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang as the inspiration behind his new party.

He repeatedly referred to Hadi as "ayanda saya" (father) and "ayah chik", an affectionate term popular in Terengganu and used mostly by close associates of Hadi.

Hamzah, who is Larut MP, was several minutes into his speech at the launch of his new political party when Hadi arrived in a wheelchair, wearing a white jubah and maroon kopiah.

He rushed forward to kiss Hadi’s hand, briefly resting his forehead on the elder man’s left shoulder.

Hamzah has an effortless charm and good social skills but he is, by nature, a rather secretive creature. He managed to keep the name of the new party, Parti Wawasan Negara, a secret until a week or so before its launch last weekend in Tanah Merah, Kelantan.

He surprised everyone because every Tom, Dick and Harry had assumed he would be taking over Berjasa.

Hamzah’s gushing tribute to Hadi and other PAS leaders was rather over the top but PAS has been the wind beneath his wings. He would not be up there again without their endorsement.

Many have wondered what is so special about Hamzah to be able to win over PAS leaders.

According to Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, there is some sort of chemistry between them. A lot of it has to do with the respect that Hamzah shows to Hadi and his acknowledgement of PAS in the Malay political world.

"People feel comfortable with Hamzah and PAS leaders like how he is able to work and get along with people," said Wan Ahmad Fayhsal.

PAS leaders have made no pretence of their preference for Hamzah over Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Hadi may be frail and in ill health but he is a political animal of the highest order and there were ripples of surprise when Hadi announced that Hamzah had been reappointed as the Opposition Leader. That was quite an oomph! moment.

The announcement saw Hamzah leap to his feet and approach Hadi to, once again, kiss his hand.

There has since been an outcry from the Bersatu side over the appointment but the Opposition Leader is someone who has the support of the opposition MPs. It is about numbers and PAS, with 43 MPs, and Hamzah who has the support of 19 MPs, are in a position to call the shots.

And if insider information is to be believed, another political earthquake is about to take place in Perikatan Nasional.

Bersatu is likely to be expelled from Perikatan before the week is over.

A Perikatan supreme council meeting scheduled for Wednesday will likely see PAS, Parti Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP) decide to accept Hamzah’s party and expel Bersatu.

Politics is a treacherous game and it is ironic that Muhyiddin is being pushed out of the coalition that he founded.

The former prime minister has been out-manoeuvred by the man who went from being his number one supporter to become his number one enemy.

Some have described what happened as the White House Move, a reference to Hamzah’s office in Bukit Tunku which is painted white and dubbed the White House.

The Tanah Merah event was more than just about introducing a new political party.

It was to signal that Perikatan is much more than just a green wave.

It has a national agenda that involves political renewal, economic reform and the aspiration to improve the lives of people and make Malaysia peaceful, stable and respected internationally.

Hamzah’s speech signalled where Perikatan stands in the axis of Malay politics.

PAS has maxed out on its traditional Malay base and personalities like Hamzah have the potential to reach out to the urban and west coast ecosystem.

This was evident when Hamzah acknowledged leaders like Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Tun Ahmad Abdullah Badawi and Datuk Seri Najib Razak, whom Hamzah referred to as "my brother".

That was when those in the audience realised that the slim, slight-build man seated on the stage was Datuk Omar Mustapha, a trusted advisor to Najib and a product of Oxford University.

Omar’s presence immediately set off ripples of speculation about whether he has come onboard the new party.

Perikatan will have to elaborate on and flesh out its national agenda to convince more people that it is not purely a green wave that is only obsessed with religion and the afterlife.

"PAS embraced Hamzah for a bigger purpose, to bring Perikatan’s vision to fruition," said one of those at the launch.

Perikatan is presenting two potential prime minister candidates – Hamzah and Datuk Seri Dr Samsuri Mokhtar who is PAS vice-president and Terengganu Mentri Besar.

The stage is set for Perikatan to move a step closer to Putrajaya.