PERIKATAN Nasional (PN) secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin has slammed the actions of Pejuang president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, whom he claimed was trying to play both sides of the fence by holding talks with PN and Pakatan Harapan on the forthcoming state polls.
Describing the move as “desperate”, Hamzah said the former Jerlun MP was trying to ensure his political career would continue, following Pejuang’s devastating loss in the last general election (GE15).
“This shows that he is desperate to find a place for himself. Just let him be. It’s all right, as a politician he has to do this to continue surviving in the country’s political arena,” Hamzah told reporters at the Parliament lobby today (Feb 23).
It was previously reported that Mukhriz – the son of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad – has held meetings with component parties from both PH and PN in the past week.
Last Sunday, PAS election director Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said Mukhriz had recently met the party’s top leadership, including its president, Abdul Hadi Awang, his deputy and the three vice-presidents.
Kedah PH chairman Datuk Mahfuz Omar had also confirmed on Wednesday he met with Mukhriz two months ago to discuss a “partnership” for the state elections.
According to Mahfuz, Mukhriz had expressed interest in forming a political alliance with PH in Kedah. Mahfuz had then suggested that Mukhriz convey his intentions to PH president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the matter can only be decided by the coalition’s presidential council.
The PH-controlled states of Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan and PAS-led Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu must hold their state elections within the next five months.
In GE15, all Pejuang candidates had lost their deposits, including former chairman Dr Mahathir and Mukhriz.
Dr Mahathir had since left the party. – Feb 23, 2023
