‘I didn’t want to sit there,’ says Muhyiddin on sitting beside Hamzah

PETALING JAYA – Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has admitted feeling awkward about sitting next to Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin in the Dewan Rakyat, especially after Hamzah recently labelled him as his “number one enemy”.

Muhyiddin, who is Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president and Pagoh MP, said this was among the reasons he did not attend Parliament this week.

“I did not go to Parliament (this week), firstly because I was not feeling well.

“Secondly, when I heard I would be sitting next to Hamzah... I didn’t want to sit there. To be frank, it’s not that I wanted to be absent, but it would be awkward, wouldn’t it?” he said during a special interview with local media at the Bersatu headquarters here on Monday.

Hamzah, the former Bersatu deputy president, had previously declared himself Muhyiddin’s main opponent and referred to him as the party president’s “number one enemy” after his membership was terminated on Feb 13.

Earlier, a photo of Muhyiddin’s empty seat in the Dewan Rakyat went viral, while Hamzah, who sits beside him, was present.

At the same time, Muhyiddin stressed that Hamzah should reflect and realise that he is no longer the Opposition Leader and should step down gracefully.

“The best thing is for him to leave. I told him myself to leave in a proper manner. But he said no, because I have not been sacked yet. Do you want to wait for someone to sack you?” he said.