Hisham: I will not entertain allegations
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein is unfazed by allegations suggesting that he was the mastermind behind the mass defection of Umno leaders from the party.
The former Umno vice-president pooh-poohed such accusations, claiming that they were fabricated by quarters desperate for political mileage.
“They are so desperate that they will say anything.
“I shall not entertain them. “When (it is) not the case, they just move on to another issue to attack me,” the Sembrong member of parliament (MP) said in a reply via WhatsApp to the New Straits Times Press.
The former defence minister was asked to comment on claims by certain quarters that he was responsible for the exodus of several Umno leaders, which was crippling the party.
Former domestic trade, cooperatives and consumerism minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin and five other MPs became the latest Umno leaders to quit the party on Friday.
The other MPs are Datuk Rosol Wahid (Hulu Terengganu), Datuk Seri Ikhmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (Tanah Merah), Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad (Mersing), Datuk Shabudin Yahaya (Tasik Gelugor), and Datuk Mohamad Fasiah Mohd Fakeh (Sabak Bernam).
Their resignations from the party came after several Umno MPs and state assemblymen in Sabah resigned from the party on Wednesday.
In Kuala Terengganu, Rosol, who is rumoured to join Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM), denied claims that he was influenced by Pakatan Harapan top leaders to leave Umno.
“I did not receive a single sen or any incentives (to resign from Umno).
“The decision to quit Umno is my own decision and not because I was influenced by ‘outsiders’ as claimed by certain quarters.
“Even the top Umno leadership and supporters at the grassroots level consented to my decision to leave the party.”
He said his decision to resign from Umno was to help the people apart from helping Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in strengthening unity among the Bumiputeras.