Hisham playing key role to keep Dr Mahathir as PM

Updated 4 years ago · Published on 24 Oct 2019 7:00AM · 5 Comments

Former Umno vice-president and Sembrong MP Hishammuddin Hussein denies being involved in a plot to oust DAP and Amanah from Pakatan Harapan. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, October 24, 2019.

FORMER Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein is trying to get at least 30 lawmakers from Umno and Barisan Nasional to support Dr Mahathir Mohamad to remain as prime minister for the full term, said sources.

The Malaysian Insight learnt that the move started last year in order to stop PKR president Anwar Ibrahim from reaching Putrajaya as agreed and signed by Pakatan Harapan leaders on January 7, 2018.

One source told The Malaysian Insight the “backdoor government” without Amanah and DAP can be formed as early as November when Bersatu gets 60 parliamentary seats compared with the 28 it holds today.

“The problem now is that PKR does not have enough numbers in Parliament. If the numbers are sufficient, Anwar would have already proposed a no-confidence motion against Dr Mahathir.”

Hishammuddin previously denied any involvement to oust DAP and Amanah from PH after Anwar raised the matter in Parliament last week.

Anwar told the opposition members not to fall for the idea and branded the strategy as nonsense.

Following the uncertainty, PH secretarial council accused Hishammuddin of coming up with a mischievous proposal.

Another source said Hishammuddin’s action is in line with the decision made by Umno Supreme Council which previously rejected any effort to work with DAP.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has stated he’ll leave the post at some point in the next year or so but there are many in the opposition who want him to remain. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, October 24, 2019.

However, he said, Hishammuddin has no capacity to represent Umno in any negotiation and has not been reporting to the Supreme Council on his plan.

“The Supreme Council agrees that only the president can deal on any negotiation and any decision must be done collectively. Hishammuddin does not do that.”

On July 24, Umno Supreme Council agreed not to have any form of cooperation with parties close to DAP.

The meeting concluded that only the president is given the power to hold any discussion with outsiders.

Umno’s advisory board led by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah cautioned Hishammuddin and wanted the party to act against any individual who went against the party’s wishes.

The source added that Hishammuddin is eyeing the BN secretary-general position as it would provide him a platform to move around as a party or coalition representative.

“That is why he wants the position. With the post, he can call anyone, meet anyone,” the source said.

Another source close to the Umno president’s office admitted that Ahmad Zahid Hamidi did hold a meeting with Hishammuddin regarding the BN secretary-general’s post.

However, the outcome of the meeting has not been finalised as Zahid needs to get the nod from the party.

“It is true that Zahid offered the post to Hishammuddin but it is not final. Zahid needs to discuss the matter with party leaders even though it is his prerogative.

“In the past, his decision to pick Nazri Aziz without consulting the others caused problems. He does not want a repeat of the same incident,” he said.

In March, the BN supreme council meeting announced that Nazri’s appointment as secretary-general was invalid as the matter was never discussed in a meeting of partners.

Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor remains the secretary-general. – October 24, 2019.

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Comments

  • I changed my mind. This Tg Piai election, my vote will go to a non-PH/non-BN/non-PAS candidate if there is one.

    Posted 4 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • When you add up the numbers it does not come to 112 but only 94. I doubt that 30 out of 38 UMNO MPs will join Bersatu unless it is going to be a coalition of UMNO, PAS, Bersatu and 18 PKR dissident MPs. Still the numbers are short of 112. They need to get Warisan/Upko to support them and if not the GPS.Its a tall order for some like Hisham who is not an Umno warlord and with no strong grassroots support in UMNO.

    Posted 4 years ago by Gerard Lourdesamy · Reply

  • Nonsense. Of course he wish to just to save himself

    Posted 4 years ago by Penganalisa L · Reply

  • Who wrote this article? No name of author! He must be a hypocrite. Talking nonsense. Dr M has to go on his own will so as to maintain his good name as a noble and respectful stateman. His style and method d oesn't work effectively to today's problems.

    Posted 4 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • This is a tale of treachery behind what was agreed in the PH coalition. We as Malaysian are not stupid. The old divide and rule, the race card and the devil behind it all is well known. Millions of Malays, Chinese, Indians and the indigenous community voted for Anwar Ibrahim simply because BN that was remodelled by Mahathir was oozing in corrupt practices. Billions of Malaysian dollars even before the Najib scandal was being channelled to the elite cronies of UMNO. As a result, millions supported financially and physically for PH to win. Now it looks like Hishamuddin will be welcomed into Bersatu with open arms. History is written in stone-we know what UMNO did to Malays who wanted to participate in governance as an opposition. The future is unknown. But the truth will prevail. Millions will move again using the electoral process to oust anyone who wants to
    create a dictatorship.

    Posted 4 years ago by Mariadass Ariokiasamy · Reply