I’m free to meet anyone, Hamzah tells Muhyiddin

2026-03-05 - 13:54

Hamzah Zainudin was accused of engaging in secret negotiations with Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to form a new political configuration. PETALING JAYA: Former Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin has hit back at Muhyiddin Yassin over claims he betrayed the party by meeting with Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, saying he is free to meet anyone as the opposition leader. According to Kosmo, Hamzah said the accusations made by the Bersatu president were baseless. “I want to make this clear – I am the opposition leader. Likewise, am I not allowed to meet (DAP secretary-general) Loke Siew Fook? I’m the opposition leader and he’s a minister. “As opposition leader, am I not allowed to meet the deputy prime minister (Zahid)? What is he (Muhyiddin) afraid of? Surely Zahid cannot topple him as party president. “Such claims of betrayal are just excuses to sack me from the party. There’s no need to drag this out. This is childish,” he told reporters at Madrasah Hafizah Sungai Bayor in Selama, Perak. Muhyiddin had accused Hamzah of engaging in secret negotiations with Zahid to form a new political configuration that would allow him (Hamzah) to be appointed deputy prime minister, while another leader would hold the top post. Muhyiddin also accused Hamzah of being behind moves to destabilise and divide Bersatu, saying this was the main reason why the opposition leader was sacked from the party on Feb 13. He also said Hamzah had committed “many other offences” which forced the Bersatu disciplinary board to expel him from the party to prevent further problems, although the talks with Zahid was a major issue. On Tuesday, Hamzah confirmed discussions to join and lead Parti Keluarga Malaysia after its founder, Khairi Jaya, reportedly said that a takeover was “90% confirmed”. Commenting on the matter today, Hamzah said he still needed to assess several matters, including the purpose for which the party was formed and whether its goals aligned with his principles. “All of this must be carefully considered and cannot be rushed. That is why I say the process may take some time, even though discussions with the party are already very close to reaching a decision,” he said.