Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein fumed today at the assemblymen who had "boycotted" the Setiu party division meeting, calling them disrespectful.

 

hishammuddin home minister, seputeh division opening "Their actions, despite whatever reasons that they had given, will at

the end affect and tarnish the name of their own division.

 

"They should at least show some respect to the person officiating the event, even more when he is the deputy president of the party, and to respect the division.

"Who are we without the party and the division?" he asked.

 

Hishammuddin ( above ) was referring to the fiasco in Terengganu yesterday when four state assemblypersons who also happened to be party stalwarts, were noticeably absent from the division annual general meeting, despite the presence of deputy prime minister and the party number two Muhyiddin Yassin ( below ) to grace the event.

 

muhyiddin yassin pc 170310 Hishammuddin, who is also the Terengganu liaison committee chief, said that he was dismayed that the internal problem in the division could be interpreted into a national agenda.

 

"When we see it at the national level, the problem in Setiu will

become a question mark, because we need to respect the party no matter what," he said after launching the Seputeh Umno division AGM in the afternoon today.

 

Hishammuddin said the issue that had plagued Setiu was a problem which had existed even before he took over the state party reins in 2008.

 

The "problem" had arosen from intense factionalism in Terengganu Umno, in which two camps headed by former MB Idris Jusoh and his successor Ahmad Said have been battling for dominance.

What was most worrying. said Hishammuddin, was that the four representatives would show their displeasure when the DPM was around.

 

The four lawmakers - Ramlan Ali (Jabi), Abd Halim Jusoh (Permaisuri),

Asha'ari Idris (Langkap) and Khazan Che Mat (Batu Rakit) - were said

to be in Idris' camp and have been disgruntled with the Ahmad

administration.

 

Besut Umno division chief Idris himself, however, was present at the meeting yesterday.

 

At the same time, Hishammuddin attempted to play down talk of

discord in the party, saying that it was only "one or two" divisions

with problems and that Umno is generally united.

 

PAS: 'Be sincere about Islam'

On another matter, Hishammuddin said that the issue of "talks" between Umno and PAS has not been brought up, whether in the supreme council or the political bureau.

 

"If it is really true that we want to talk about the future of the race, religion and country in the context of PAS and Umno's struggles, it has to be genuine, honest and constructive.

"If not, there is no reason for us to meet," he said.

 

pas muktamar 130610 nik abdul aziz 4 Muhyiddin had earlier said that the party could officially or unofficially meet PAS to " forge cooperation between the two political parties for the sake of Malay unity", as suggested by some quarters.

 

However, PAS spiritual adviser Nik Aziz Nik Mat ( right ) said PAS would only be willing to meet the deputy premier if the issues pertaining to the state and federal governments are on the agenda, effectively slamming the door shut on "unity talks".

To that, Hishammuddin said: "PAS does not move based on the whims and fancies of one person."

"If PAS is really sincere about fighting for Islam, don't flip flop in coming out with inconsistent statements.

 

"That's why I see so many complaints by PAS supporters themselves about leaders who are not united. So don't put all your hopes in just one leader, but look at the bigger picture," he said.