Supporting Muhyiddin as PM: "Where is the betrayal?" - Questions Hishammuddin
January 13, 2023
According to Hishammuddin, the decision to give a statutory declaration letter (SD) at the initial stage was because cooperation with Pakatan Harapan (PH) contradicted the party's position.
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein vehemently rejected accusations of being labeled a party traitor after his name was linked among 10 Barisan Nasional (BN) Members of Parliament who supported Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as Prime Minister.
According to the Sembrong Member of Parliament, the decision to give a statutory declaration letter (SD) at the initial stage was because cooperation with Pakatan Harapan (PH) contradicted the party's position.
However, Hishammuddin stressed, once the party decided to remain neutral, all of them withdrew the SD in addition to agreeing to the party's wishes in line with the order of the Yang Di-pertuan Agong to form a Unity Government.
"First of all, I thank YB President (Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) for forgiving 10 people who were said to be traitors but until today I don't know why they were accused of being traitors.
"I am quite confident that what has already happened is nothing for which we should apologize for being accused of betraying the party's cause," he told reporters after the UMNO President's Policy Speech in conjunction with the 2022 UMNO General Assembly (PAU2022) at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Center (WTCKL). here, today.
Commenting further, the former Minister of Defense agreed with the statement of Jelebu Member of Parliament, Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias that their initial decision to sign SD was in line with the party's narrative at the time.
"If they want to take action, take it. There is nothing I need to worry about because we have been consistent before at the (party) level, the effort to work together with PH contradicts the party's own stance.
"We made the SD-SD but when the party had made a decision we were neutral, at one point, we withdrew the SD and after that when the Yang di-Pertuan Agong told us to agree to establish a Unity Government and the will of the party, we agreed. So where is the betrayal ?" Hishammuddin's question again.
At the same time, Hishammuddin said, the people are fed up with UMNO's attitude of quarreling and accusing each other.
He said, what needs to be done now is to move forward and prepare for the next series of elections.
"I hope that what we can discuss in this PAU is the direction and how we can reduce the gap of trust among the public towards the party and the struggle.
"That's better than just using this platform to argue, argue with each other, accuse, accuse, and attack each other. Realize... enough is enough," he stressed.
