KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 13): Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) has expelled deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin and three dissenting lawmakers amid a deepening power struggle within the party.
In a brief statement on Friday, Bersatu secretary general Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said the decision to expel Hamzah, the leader of the opposition in the Dewan Rakyat, was made by the party’s disciplinary council, citing a breach of Clause 9.1.4 of the party constitution.
The clause requires members to comply with the party constitution as well as its code of ethics and conduct. Hamzah has 14 days from the notice to appeal to the party’s appeals board.
At least three other lawmakers were also reportedly sacked under the same clause: Gerik member of Parliament (MP) Fathul Huzir Ayob, Padang Rengas MP Azahari Hasan and Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal. Wan Ahmad Fayhsal had been suspended since October last year over disciplinary issues.
The move comes as cracks within Bersatu’s leadership widen. Hamzah has long been accused of backing efforts to unseat party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
The rift intensified over the past week, with the Muhyiddin-aligned faction increasing pressure on Hamzah, including calls for disciplinary action or his removal. Hamzah was reportedly absent from a disciplinary board hearing on Feb 12 as he is currently in Sydney.
Earlier on Friday, 16 Bersatu lawmakers issued a joint statement urging Muhyiddin to step down and hand over leadership to Hamzah.
Bersatu won 31 parliamentary seats in the 2022 general election, but its representation fell to 25 after six MPs were sacked for supporting Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s administration. The party later sacked Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan in October last year over disciplinary issues.
Following the expulsion of Hamzah and the three MPs, Bersatu is left with 20 seats in the Dewan Rakyat.
Hamzah, a veteran politician and four-term Larut MP, will see his next move closely watched amid speculation that Malaysia could face a general election as early as this year.
Under Malaysia’s anti-hopping law, Hamzah retains his parliamentary seat as the law does not affect lawmakers expelled from their party. Expelled MPs are also free to join another political party.
Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is reportedly open to welcoming Hamzah back to the party under the Rumah Bangsa initiative, which aims to unite Malay- and Muslim-based parties under a broad coalition.
Hamzah originally switched from Umno to Bersatu after Barisan Nasional lost power in 2018.