Wan Fayhsal claims 'third party' influencing Bersatu to sideline Hamzah

Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal has claimed that certain quarters within Bersatu are uncomfortable with the presence of party deputy president Hamzah Zainudin and are attempting to push him aside.

Speaking on The Zaid Ibrahim Podcast yesterday, Wan Fayhsal alleged that these individuals believe Hamzah is overshadowing Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin’s leadership.

He said some in Bersatu have grown uneasy because Hamzah is well accepted by PAS as a suitable figure to lead Perikatan Nasional into the next general election.

Wan Fayhsal - who is suspended from Bersatu - claimed efforts to sideline Hamzah began when the Larut MP was still serving as the party’s secretary-general.

“At times, the relationship between Hamzah and the president (Muhyiddin) became strained because of a third person who was stirring things up, especially when Hamzah became more prominent and received media attention.

“Since he was only an appointed secretary-general, some felt he should know his place and not overshadow the president.

“When he tried to take the spotlight, someone close to the president would pull him back. This has been the recurring problem over the past few years,” he claimed.

Wan Fayhsal is among several Bersatu leaders seen as being at odds with Muhyiddin and aligned with Hamzah’s camp.

‘Suspended but increasingly vocal’

The former Bersatu Youth chief has become more outspoken since being suspended for one term. Five other Bersatu leaders - one of them from the central leadership - faced harsher penalties and were expelled.

Those sacked were Tasek Gelugor MP and ex-party information chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan, and four division leaders - Azrudin Idris (Hang Tuah Jaya), Faizal Asmar (Pengerang), Fadhli Ismail (Ipoh Timur), and Isa Saidi (Ampang).

They were referred to the party’s disciplinary board following the controversy over statutory declarations (SDs) allegedly signed to pressure Muhyiddin to step down and be replaced by another leader.

During the podcast, Wan Fayhsal did not name the “third person” he accused of influencing Bersatu’s top leadership to sideline Hamzah.

PAS backs Hamzah as opposition leader

He also revealed that PAS had chosen Hamzah to become opposition leader after PN failed to form the government following the 15th general election.

“I noticed Muhyiddin was quite surprised because at that time, Hamzah was only PN’s secretary-general.

“PAS saw that Hamzah played an effective role in uniting PAS and Bersatu’s election machinery,” Wan Fayhsal said.

Hamzah had during the last Bersatu annual general meeting openly declared his loyalty to Muhyiddin, in response to claims of treachery made against him.

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