Ronald’s offence not comparable to Hamzah’s, says Muhyiddin

KUALA LUMPUR - Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president Muhyiddin Yassin indicates that the wrongdoing committed by the party’s vice-president, Ronald Kiandee, is not comparable to the case involving former Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin.

He said this was among the factors why Ronald was not expelled by the party’s disciplinary board.

Muhyiddin said that although Ronald was also present at a meeting with Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in Bangkok previously, Hamzah was alleged to have led the negotiations without the party’s top leadership's approval.

“But this is not my task, it is the task of the disciplinary board. The disciplinary board weighs the case.

“In Datuk Hamzah’s case, he went (to meet Zahid) and that has been confirmed. I had previously said that he went to negotiate without approval from the Supreme Leadership Council. He breached the party constitution and so on,” he said during a press conference after chairing the Bersatu Supreme Leadership Council meeting here on Tuesday.

Muhyiddin stressed that decisions on any disciplinary cases are made entirely by the party’s disciplinary board based on a full report and thorough investigations.

He said every individual involved is also given the space and opportunity to defend themselves before any action is taken.

“The disciplinary board does not act arbitrarily. They assess the full report and the parties involved are given the opportunity to defend themselves before a decision is made,” he said.

He added that Bersatu continues to practise democratic principles within the party, allowing members to voice their views as long as they adhere to party rules and the constitution.

“This party practises democracy and members have the right to speak, but it must be guided by the existing rules and constitution,” he said.

Earlier, Kiandee admitted in a statement that he was directly involved in several programmes with Hamzah, including the meeting with Zahid in Bangkok last year.

He also questioned why he was not expelled even though he attended the meeting together with Hamzah.

Meanwhile, Muhyiddin said he is still awaiting a decision on the appointment of the opposition leader, which is expected to be made at a meeting of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) supreme council on March 14.

“I understand the PN deputy secretary-general, Takiyuddin Hassan, has already announced that the matter will be decided in that meeting. So we will wait for the decision on the 14th,” he said.