Hamzah denies claims that 10 more MPs will follow Zuraida's footsteps

PUTRAJAYA - Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin has brushed off the claims that 10 more Bersatu MPs will follow the footsteps of Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin to leave the party and join Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) soon.

The Bersatu secretary-general said although the Ampang MP claimed that she has many followers, there were only a few who were with her.

"Actually, Zuraida said previously many of her followers from PKR had joined Bersatu, but the fact is not many did that.

“She was just making claims that hundreds of thousands of her followers (from PKR) joined Bersatu but it was only a few leaders.

"So not many of her followers left the party because no one is registered with Bersatu.

"The figures that we have released was the actual number of registered members of Bersatu. However, I could only reveal the actual number of the Bersatu members at the Annual General Meeting (AGM)," he said during an exclusive interview with Sinar Premium and a Chinese newspaper at his office, here, on Thursday.

Hamzah also denied that the Bersatu disciplinary board was slow in issuing a show-cause letter to Zuraida even though the party's Supreme Leadership Council (MPT) had instructed the board to do so since February.

"It's not too late. We held an MPT meeting and about a week later Bersatu issued a show-cause letter, before Zuraida replied two weeks later. Three days later she (Zuraida) announced that she was leaving Bersatu and join PBM," he said.

Meanwhile, Hamzah also dismissed rumours that he would leave Bersatu and return to Umno in the future.

He said there was no reason for him to rejoin Umno after leaving the party.

The Larut MP also emphasised that he would not join Umno simply because certain parties claimed that the party was now getting stronger and regaining the support of the majority of the people in the country.

"How do you know Umno is now getting stronger and has the support of the majority of the people? How many states are in Malaysia now? We have 13 states in Malaysia now but out of the number how many states are governed by Umno?

"Are Sarawak and Sabah governed by Umno? The answer is no. Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah are also not ruled by the party, but the states are ruled by Pas. Similarly, the other states including Selangor, Penang and Negeri Sembilan and the Federal Territories are governed by the opposition party.

"Therefore, how can you say that I will return to Umno because they are getting stronger?" he said.

Hamzah also refused to comment further on the allegation that he will be appointed as the Deputy Prime Minister in the upcoming cabinet reshuffle which will be announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob soon.