Hamzah's 'reset' not political survival but nation-building: Saifuddin

Recently sacked Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin’s “reset” movement is not for political survival but a genuine attempt at nation-building, said Indera Mahkota MP Saifuddin Abdullah.

In a column published in Sinar Harian today, Saifuddin also urged supporters to join Hamzah’s movement, emphasising that the Larut MP’s move was not driven by personal ambition but a sincere desire for change.

He drew on the Quranic story of Prophet Yusuf to argue that volunteering for a position of authority is not wrong; in fact, it is noble, provided the intention is pure.

“Prophet Yusuf did not offer himself out of a lust for power, but out of a sincere concern for the welfare of the people and the stability of the nation.

“In this same spirit, Hamzah is putting himself forward, bringing with him his companions and all who wish to stand alongside him, to leave behind a crumbling old house and move into a sturdier, more enduring one.

“This is not an act of political survivalism. Nor is it mere political manoeuvring. Rather, it is a strategic move to forge a more mature and stable political configuration, one that genuinely unites the people across faiths, races, and regions,” he said.

Saifuddin, who is also a former Bersatu supreme council member, emphasised that Hamzah’s offer to lead the movement had been made after serious consideration, as the former home minister did not harbour ambitions of becoming a “top leader”.

“Yes, he has been a rugby captain, leader of corporate organisations, and a minister, but he has never demanded to become party president or a prime minister,” he added.

On Feb 13, Hamzah, along with 16 other party leaders and lawmakers, had been sacked from Bersatu by its disciplinary council. Since the incident, Bersatu has seen a mass exodus of grassroots leaders and members, who announced their loss of confidence in Muhyiddin.

The following day, Hamzah and his supporters, including former Bersatu leaders, gathered at the Universiti Malaya Alumni Clubhouse, urging a “reset” of the political scene.

He later declined to confirm whether he would join an existing party like Umno or PAS, or form a new one with his supporters.

In his column, Saifuddin also described Hamzah’s movement as a form of “nation building” to fix institutions, systems, and laws, resulting in an improvement of the country’s governance and economic prosperity.

Internal turmoil

Saifuddin was among the Bersatu leaders who were sacked due to criticism of party president Muhyiddin Yassin.

His expulsion came on Jan 6, after being removed from the Pahang Perikatan Nasional chief post in October last year.

On Feb 18, 11 Johor Bersatu and one Terengganu Bersatu division announced their dissolution. This continued a wave of dissolutions across the party since Hamzah’s expulsion.

The Johor group’s spokesperson, Isa Ab Hamid, who was also the Pontian Bersatu division chief, said the move came after more than half of each division’s committee members resigned.

Bersatu secretary-general Azmin Ali, however, dismissed such “unconstitutional” dissolution announcements.

He said the resignations stemmed from the protracted leadership crisis in Bersatu that resulted in the dismissal of senior leaders and MPs.

He added that party leaders failed to handle the crisis prudently, eroding the trust of members and voters.

Senior leaders exit

Last night, Masjid Tanah MP Mas Ermieyati Samsudin became the latest to announce her resignation as the Masjid Tanah Bersatu division chief.

The former deputy minister’s move was followed by the entire senior leadership of the division, including Roslan Joned (division deputy chief), Norihan Bahari (division Women’s chief), Majidul Ikhwan Jidin (division Youth chief), Shahrul Azhar Amir (division secretary), Isa Jani (division information chief), and Dr Nordina Abd Latif (division treasurer).

Beyond the senior leadership, 11 division committee members and wing secretaries also tendered their resignations.

In a Facebook post later, Shahrul claimed the resignations had effectively brought about the dissolution of the Masjid Tanah division.

Besides the Masjid Tanah division, the New Straits Times reported that leaders and committee members from three Bersatu divisions in Perak had also announced their resignations following Hamzah’s sacking.

Those who stepped down included Amran Ibrahim (Tanjung Malim Bersatu deputy division chief), Ahmad Man (Bukit Gantang Bersatu division chief), and Ismail Ali (Bagan Serai Bersatu division chief).

Bersatu’s Bintulu branch in Sarawak also reportedly followed suit, becoming the first division in the state to leave the party.

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