‘Once bitten, twice shy’: Muhyiddin rejects Hamzah’s potential return to PN

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Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. Foto: ROSLI TALIB/SINAR

Muhyiddin expressed significant doubt over the possibility of Hamzah’s future party joining the coalition.

PETALING JAYA – Bersatu President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has made it clear that he would oppose any move by his former deputy, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, to align a new political platform with Perikatan Nasional (PN), stating that trust cannot be easily restored after betrayal.

Speaking during a special interview at the Bersatu headquarters, Muhyiddin stressed that while Hamzah has every right to determine his own political direction, entry into the PN coalition is not automatic and requires consensus among all component parties.

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Hamzah was expelled from Bersatu amid an intense leadership tussle with party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. - Bernama photo

Muhyiddin expressed significant doubt over the possibility of Hamzah’s future party joining the coalition.

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“I am not very confident that such a thing can happen. If he wants to find his own direction, that is his right.

“It is not for me to say whether he joins another party, crosses over to the other side, or aligns with any other group,” he said.

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He further clarified that the coalition's admission process is a collective decision rather than a personal one, asserting that he would personally oppose the move based on the principle of ‘once bitten, twice shy’.

“When someone has acted in such a manner, can they simply come back in?

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“PN has four component parties that will collectively consider whether a new member can be accepted.

“In my personal view, if he does not prove himself over the next year or two, then I am sorry—we are only human. It is not that easy,” he added.

Hamzah, who currently serves as the Opposition Leader, recently confirmed discussions regarding the possibility of taking over a political entity reportedly named Parti Keluarga Malaysia.

He described these talks as being at a “technical stage”.

The fallout follows a decision on Dec 12 last year, when the Bersatu Disciplinary Board expelled Hamzah from the party with immediate effect.

He was found to have breached Clause 9.1.4 of the party constitution, an action that summarily ended his tenure as Deputy President.