Hishammuddin denies involvement in new party formation

Former Umno vice president Hishammuddin Hussein today refuted claims that he was involved in a proposed establishment of a new party, reportedly called Parti Reformasi Bersatu Negara, based on viral posts on social media recently.

The foreign minister said he was still loyal to Umno and was not surprised to hear claims of him leaving Umno and BN.

"This comes as no surprise because before this there were talks that I was forming a new party with (former PKR deputy president) Mohamed Azmin Ali ... which were all defamatory statements, out to pit the leaders against one another," Hishammuddin (above) said.

"I suppose these are with malicious intent, (so) it's not necessary for me to respond to them. The aim of (the parties involved) is to spin the issue further on social media," he told reporters after visiting several Orang Asli settlements in Kampung Gumum, Chini.

Hishammuddin's visit was to give support to BN candidate Mohd Sharim Md Zain, who is contesting for the Chini state seat by-election on July 4.

It was alleged that Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin is chairperson of the new party, Mohamed Azmin is the party’s de facto leader, Hishammuddin is its president, and Ismail Sabri Yaakob the deputy president.

Hishammuddin also did not rule out the possibility that the issue over the new party formation was raised to give a negative perception that the Perikatan Nasional government was riddled with problems.

“This just goes to show how desperate these people are when we have been in the government for just 100 days. If this is their strategy, then this is a good sign.

“If we have got them worried, then we are on the right track,” he said.

- Bernama

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