THE failure of some quarters in Umno to appreciate Hishammuddin Hussein’s efforts to revive Umno has resulted in him being labelled a pimp, said Hasni Mohammad.

The Umno Johor liaison chief said the former Umno vice-president was only looking out for the party, and that its members should stand united at this time.

“We should not be fighting each other now to the point of calling each other traitors,” he said when opening the Sembrong division delegates’ meeting today.

Last Sunday, Umno advisory council chairman Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah had said the party should not tolerate members whose actions ran counter to the party’s decisions.

He described such members as “pimps” (barua), who moved around and met with others as they pleased, without considering that their actions could jeopardise Umno’s efforts to revive itself after losing the general election last year.

“Those who want to run, those who are of no service to the party, get rid of them. We don’t want these thorns in the flesh.

“We have decided to cooperate with PAS, so we don’t want pimps,” the Umno veteran had said when launching the Bagan Datuk division meeting in Perak last Sunday.

Bagan Datuk is the home division of Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Tengku Razaleigh’s remarks are believed to be directed at former defence minister Hishammuddin, who had attended a private meeting with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad last Tuesday.

The meeting was reportedly held for several opposition party representatives to state their support for Dr Mahathir to serve a full term as prime minister.

Others at the meeting were PAS vice-president Samsuri Ahmad Mokhtar, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan and Gabungan Parti Sarawak whip Fadillah Yusof.

Hishammuddin, who is also Sembrong MP, yesterday confirmed he was at the meeting.

However, he downplayed his presence, saying it was not unusual for lawmakers to meet with the prime minister.

Hasni said Johor Umno regretted that Hishamuddin’s initiatives have resulted in claims that he was not on the same page with the party’s leadership.

“I understand his feelings and how he is working for the party’s future but his efforts are being misconstrued.

“I am sure my fellow party men in Johor also regret this has happened to him,” he said. – August 9, 2019.