KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 14 — Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin today said he will not appeal against Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s (Bersatu) decision to expel him.

A defiant Hamzah said he would now turn from party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s “number one supporter” to his “number one enemy”.

The Larut MP also insisted that he remains the Opposition Leader and will continue serving the public as a lawmaker.

“I never intended to be the president of Bersatu. I only wanted to fight for my country, race and religion. 

“I was dismissed and I will not appeal against the expulsion. 

“Struggles require sacrifice and I have sacrificed so much for the party but now I am not needed in the party, so I bid farewell,” Hamzah said in a fiery speech to hundreds of supporters at Rumah Kelab Alumni Persatuan Universiti Malaya (PAUM), here today. 

Hamzah also claimed that he was unaware of the events that unfolded during the party’s annual general assembly last year, when a scuffle erupted after some delegates shouted “letak jawatan, Muhyiddin” during the party president’s address.

Rifts within the party intensified since the general assembly, leading to 17 leaders including Hamzah, to be dismissed from the party for allegedly violating the party’s constitutions. 

“I am dismissed for something that I did not even know of. I don’t know what ghost has taken over the party.

“At the PAT, I said I was the president’s number one supporter. 

“Now let me tell you, I am the president’s number one enemy,” Hamzah said. 

Hamzah added that he also wants to seek a “new national consensus” from all Malaysians, stressing that the country urgently needs a political reset. 

The event, reportedly organised by Bersatu vice-president Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee, was also attended by the party’s women chief Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin and Alor Gajah division chief Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik.

Ousted former Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah and ex-information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan were also present. 

Earlier today, Muhyiddin defended the expulsions as a crucial measure to “save the party” and claimed he had endured “internal sabotage” in Bersatu for years.