KUALA LUMPUR – Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has confirmed that opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin was among the politicians he met in Bangkok last year to discuss Malay and Muslim unity.
Speaking at Menara Felda today, the Barisan Nasional chairman clarified:
“There hasn’t been any recent meetings with Hamzah; it was a long time ago,” he said, as reported by Berita Harian.
According to sources, PAS vice-president Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar and PN deputy secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan also attended the meeting, held in early December during Zahid’s working visit to Thailand. Samsuri is now PN chairman.
The revelation comes amid accusations by Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin that Hamzah engaged in secret negotiations with Zahid to form a new political alignment — one that would see Hamzah appointed deputy prime minister. Muhyiddin further alleged Hamzah was behind moves to destabilise and divide Bersatu, leading to his expulsion from the party on Feb 13.
Hamzah has since hit back, dismissing the claims as baseless.
“Such claims of betrayal are just excuses to sack me from the party. There’s no need to drag this out. This is childish,” the Larut MP said in Selama, Perak yesterday.
“I am free to meet anyone as the opposition leader,” he added. – March 6, 2026