Ex-Johor MB Hasni says 'bullied' by Umno leadership

After being replaced as the Johor Umno chief, Hasni Mohammad claimed he was bullied by the party’s leadership.

The Simpang Renggam MP alleged that the bullying started during the state election last March.

“At that time, I was the poster boy for BN to be appointed menteri besar if the coalition won big.

“Now, after I supported the idea of contesting the top two posts at the Umno election, I am seen as going against the wishes of the party.

“I beg to differ,” he was quoted as saying by The Star.

Hasni (above) was sidelined after last year’s Johor election despite being the face of BN throughout the campaign. BN won 40 state seats out of 56 in the polls.

After the election, however, Hasni conceded he was not getting a second term as menteri besar when he issued a statement asking the party leadership to appoint a “youth leader” to lead Johor.

Machap assemblyperson Onn Hafiz Ghazi was sworn in as the menteri besar instead.

Hasni’s comments today came after being replaced by Kota Tinggi MP Mohamed Khaled Nordin as the Johor Umno chief on Friday.

Hasni, who is also a party supreme council member, attended last Friday’s meeting but said he was not in the room when sackings and suspensions were announced.

He said despite many council members voicing their opinions, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had “already made up his mind” about the decision.

Several prominent faces of the party such as Sembrong MP Hishammuddin Hussein and former Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan were suspended, while Umno supreme council member Noh Omar and presidential hopeful Khairy Jamaluddin were sacked.

‘Remain with the party’

Hasni is keeping mum about his next course of action.

However, he said that as a person who wanted the party to be dominant in Johor, he would not just be sitting around and doing nothing after being removed from his position.

He hoped Khaled would hold a meeting soon to discuss the latest developments in the party.

Hasni also issued a reminder to the party leadership that whatever decision made in Umno should not be at the expense of giving an edge to other parties.

“I hope all those sacked or suspended remain with the party and do not rush to join other parties.

“They can still contribute via other platforms,” he said.

In a separate development, the Umno Veterans group claimed that a massive “cleansing” was taking place in the party to ensure its future is protected and that it will be accepted by the public.

The group’s chairperson Othman Desa told former party members, who have been vocal critics, to stop damaging the party by being provocateurs.

“Even if they want to (provoke), just don’t involve others,” he was quoted as saying by FMT.

Among former party members who have criticised Friday’s announcement of the expulsion and suspensions was former Ketereh MP Annuar Musa, who said it would “only produce more dirt because the real source of the dirt is still in the party”.

Umno purge: 'Those crying foul did nothing when I was sacked'

I objected to 'flawed' Umno sackings, suspensions - Ismail Sabri

Bersatu, Gerakan invite KJ to join as member

Suspended Umno men worse off than those sacked, say analysts