Components that hold own talks should just leave PN, says Hamzah

Perikatan Nasional (PN) components that hold independent political negotiations instead of consulting the coalition’s leadership should just leave PN, says opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin.

At a press conference in Kelantan, the Wawasan president said coalition members must work as a team and follow the leadership’s direction, rather than conduct their own negotiations.

“Some people claim to be part of the team but, at the same time, want to undermine it. They are like enemies within our own ranks,” he said in a thinly-veiled dig at his former party, Bersatu.

Hamzah said PN members should listen to the coalition’s leadership, likening the arrangement to a team that must follow its captain.

“We already have a captain, but if someone disagrees with the captain and wants to do things on their own, then they should leave the team if they no longer want to follow the captain.”

This comes amid speculation of a possible electoral understanding between PN component Bersatu and Pakatan Harapan (PH) for the Nov 14 Melaka state election.

Reports suggest that the Bemban seat could be given to Bersatu under the proposed “PH Plus” pact.

On the other hand, PN has agreed to work with Barisan Nasional for the Melaka polls, though seat distribution appears not yet finalised.

During the Aug 1 Negeri Sembilan polls, PN also worked with BN but Bersatu went solo in 24 seats and lost heavily in all.

Hamzah also defended PN secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan’s handling of complaints from Bersatu, saying the PAS leader had never violated the coalition’s constitution.

He cited a previous case involving another PN component, the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP). Takiyuddin had informed MIPP that it might not be invited to a PN supreme council meeting after a complaint regarding the party’s registration was lodged with the Registrar of Societies (RoS).

It was only after the matter was resolved that MIPP was invited, Hamzah added.

He said a similar situation arose with Bersatu after some of its members wrote to the RoS questioning the validity of a party meeting, which they claimed failed to meet the required quorum. A copy of the complaint was also sent to Takiyuddin.

He said this was why Bersatu was not invited to a PN supreme council meeting in July, which culminated in RoS deregistering the coalition.

“Takiyuddin has never disregarded the interests of any party. I believe that, as a lawyer, he understands that his work must comply with the rules, the party constitution and the law.

“If you do not like the way he handles things, then write him a letter and tell him. There is no need to go and lodge a complaint with RoS,” he said.

The RoS announced PN’s deregistration on Tuesday after finding that the coalition’s response to a show-cause notice was insufficient to justify retaining its registration.

The notice was issued last month following a complaint by Bersatu, which claimed it had been excluded from a key PN supreme council meeting on July 16.

The High Court subsequently stayed the deregistration pending the disposal of PN’s judicial review against the RoS.

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