HASNI Mohammad says he feels he is being bullied by the Umno leadership despite all that he has achieved in Johor for the party.

The former Johor menteri besar, who was dropped as the party’s state chapter chief on Friday, said as a person who wanted the party to be dominant in Johor, he would not just be sitting around and doing nothing after his ouster.

The Simpang Renggam MP said the last time he felt bullied was during last year’s state elections.

“At the time, I was the poster boy for Barisan Nasional to be appointed menteri besar when the coalition won big.

“Now, after I supported the idea of contesting the top two posts at the Umno elections, I am seen as going against the wishes of the party.

“I beg to differ,” he was quoted as saying in a report by English-language daily The Star today.

Hasni was among the leaders affected in the party purge that saw former Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and former Selangor chief Noh Omar sacked from the party.

Sembrong MP Hishammuddin Hussein, former Jempol MP Mohd Salim Shariff and former Tiram assemblyman Maulizan Bujang were among 44 leaders who were suspended by the party for six years.

Hasni, who attended the Umno Supreme Council meeting on Friday, said he was not present when the decision on the sackings and suspensions were made.

“Actually, many council members voiced their views but president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had already made up his mind,” he was quoted as saying in the report.

Hasni reminded the Umno leadership that any decision should not provide an advantage to opposition parties, which are already wooing its leaders.

“I hope all those sacked or suspended remain with the party and not rush to join other parties,” he said.

“They can still contribute via other platforms.”

The decision to sack and suspend the leaders was being questioned by other Supreme Council leaders.

Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the decision was made by Zahid without any input from the party’s disciplinary board. 

The former prime minister said it went against the principles of fairness as it did not give those sacked or suspended the opportunity to defend themselves. 

“I do not agree with the decision. It was not made in compliance with the legal process and is contrary to the principle of ‘natural justice’ and the right to defend oneself,” he said in an Instagram post last night. – January 29, 2023.