KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 — Pejuang president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir has dismissed speculation that former Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin is heading to the party following his expulsion from Bersatu earlier this year.

Mukhriz said reports suggesting Hamzah had applied to join Pejuang or was negotiating a political arrangement with the party were unfounded, New Straits Times reported today.

“That is not true,” Mukhriz was quoted as saying when asked about claims that negotiations existed for Hamzah to join the party.

The denial comes as questions continue to swirl over Hamzah’s political future more than three months after he was removed from Bersatu for allegedly breaching the party’s constitution.

The Larut MP has been repeatedly linked to efforts to establish a fresh political platform together with several former Bersatu leaders who were also shown the door by the party.

Among those reportedly associated with the group, informally known as “Team Reset”, are Indera Mahkota MP Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal and Tasek Gelugor MP Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan.

Political talk has also centred on Hamzah’s alleged interest in taking control of a smaller existing party rather than building a new one from scratch.

One of the parties mentioned in such speculation is Berjasa, which is expected to hold an event in Kota Baru, Kelantan, in the near future.

The newspaper also reported that Hamzah is exploring several options for his next political vehicle, including discussions involving figures from both Berjasa and Pejuang, although the latter has now publicly ruled out any such talks.