New Bersatu Youth chief Hilman unfazed by 'Azmin's man' label

Even after his recent election as the new Bersatu Youth chief, Gombak Setia assemblyperson Muhammad Hilman Idham remains comfortable with being closely linked to his first “boss” in politics, Azmin Ali.

The 39-year-old said he started his political career 16 years ago as Azmin’s speech writer and later served as his political secretary.

At the time, Azmin was also building his name in PKR. He was first elected as the party’s deputy president in 2010 and four years later became Selangor menteri besar, replacing the late Khalid Ibrahim, who resigned due to factional disputes within PKR.

“My history with Azmin cannot be erased,” said the former PKR deputy youth chief in an interview with Mingguan Malaysia.

“I served him up until Perikatan Nasional was no longer in federal power,” said Hilman (above), referring to Azmin’s stint as economic affairs minister under the Pakatan Harapan government from 2018 to 2020, until the Sheraton Move political coup.

Azmin then held the position of international trade and industry minister as part of the Perikatan Nasional government until the 15th general election in 2022.

Azmin led Selangor as a one-term menteri besar until 2018, the year Hilman first ran and won in Gombak Setia.

He was also Gombak MP and Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyperson at the time. In the last Selangor state election, the now Bersatu leader won the Hulu Kelang state seat.

We can be anyone’s ‘man’

Hilman then said that as long as one remains loyal and committed to the party’s struggles and principles, it does not matter which camp one belongs to.

“I was entrusted to contest in Gombak Setia under his (Azmin) parliamentary constituency, and I remain close to his (current) constituency in Hulu Kelang.

“In order for us to move forward, we should not be apologetic about this,” he said.

“Today in Bersatu, I am not only Azmin’s ‘man’, but I am also Muhyiddin’s ‘man’.

“That is why I always stressed, in this struggle, we must have idealism, clear principles, and loyalty to our leader, and Azmin is a leader in Bersatu.

“We can be anyone’s ‘man’ so long as we hold on to the principles I outlined,” he stressed.

Hilman also dismissed concerns raised by Mingguan Malaysia about the perceived unhappiness from PAS Youth over the victory of “Azmin’s camp” in Bersatu Youth. This was due to PAS Youth’s close working relationship with previous Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal.

“On my election (as Bersatu Youth chief), maybe it is true there are those uncomfortable with how I work, but the reality is that several PAS leaders personally contacted and congratulated me,” he added.

Moving forward, Hilman said he would engage with Bersatu Youth leaders across divisions and branches nationwide within the first 100 days as their new chief.

The Bersatu election last month concluded with party president Muhyiddin Yassin’s “compromise” team consisting of Ronald Kiandee, Mohd Radzi Md Jidin, and Ahmad Faizal Azumu elected as vice-presidents.

Leaders aligned with Azmin - who formed his so-called “cartel” - were also elected to the supreme council.

New non-Malay rep in Bersatu leadership to ensure Sabah not neglected

Close ranks, Muhyiddin tells Bersatu members as polls end

'Case closed' on Bersatu Youth election results

'Compromise team' wins Bersatu VP race, 'cartel' in supreme council

Three Bersatu vice-presidency posts to be decided today

10 suspended Bersatu divisions allowed to meet in December