KUALA LUMPUR – Former Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein has broken his silence following mounting calls for him to appeal his party suspension, insisting that he will not compromise his principles for the sake of reinstatement.
In a video posted on Instagram, the Sembrong MP said he had been branded “a fool”, “arrogant” and accused of “dragging his feet” for not challenging his six-year suspension from Umno.
He said the issue was never about regaining membership or prestige, but rather about upholding values he had long believed in — namely, principles, integrity, sincerity and justice.
Hishammuddin questioned why he was now being asked to follow party procedures to appeal when such procedures were not afforded to him when he was first suspended two years ago.
According to him, he only discovered that he had been suspended on January 27, 2023, through news reports. A formal letter followed three days later, vaguely stating he had violated the party’s constitution but offering no explanation. He claimed he has yet to be informed of any specific offence, nor was he called to defend himself or face a disciplinary hearing.
He also maintained that since the Sembrong Umno division had passed a motion urging the leadership to lift his suspension, it was now the party’s responsibility to address their concerns — not his.
Hishammuddin made clear that the Supreme Council’s recent position on appeals does not change his stance, saying his status remains unaffected.
“I know where I stand, and the people in Sembrong know me,” he said, adding that he continues to be accepted by the community and Umno grassroots alike, regardless of his current party status.
He noted that he is still invited to functions and remains engaged with the public, stressing that his connection with the people has never been tied to rank or title.
The former defence minister said the council’s decision was reflective of its own values, not his, and vowed to press on with dignity and principle.
He asserted that appealing his suspension would not be an accurate measure of his loyalty to Umno, as it is the party’s values that determine true allegiance. – July 1, 2025.