Nor Hizwan told a press conference here that they had yet to receive any official notice on their suspension, adding that they only had a screenshot of Sng’s Facebook post on the matter.
He dismissed the move by Sng, calling it an unnecessary publicity stunt and an effort to sabotage the party.
He said he and Zakaria will “follow the due process, not a Facebook post”.
Yesterday, Sng insisted he was still PBM president and announced Nor Hizwan and Zakaria’s suspension.
In a Facebook post, he said the duo’s suspension was related to a PBM Supreme Council meeting on Oct 7 which he did not call for, though he was the party’s president.
Sng also shared on Facebook yesterday a certified true copy of a Registrar of Societies document dated Oct 27 which named him as the president of PBM.
He condemned the action, calling it political manoeuvring that had undermined his leadership while causing confusion among PBM members and the general public.
The meeting eventually saw the council agreeing for Zuraida Kamaruddin to replace Sng as party president.
Today, Nor Hizwan claimed Sng had knowledge of the Oct 7 meeting as he had been sent a notice on it, including the agenda on Zuraida’s appointment as party president.
“I’m a person who follows due process. I want to remind Sng that he had received the notice of the meeting through WhatsApp and he replied to me saying that he was unable to attend,” he said, adding that the former Julau MP told him to “please carry on”.
“I think it’s mischievous of him to claim that he had no knowledge of the meeting. It’s a terrible joke,” Nor Hizwan said.
He also showed reporters a screenshot of a WhatsApp message from Sng to Zuraida telling her that she could chair the (Oct 7) meeting: “It’s okay, IBM (Ibu Bangsa Malaysia), you can chair it since you are president,” the message read.
Asked who had the right to suspend him, if at all, Nor Hizwan said it is “the president’s prerogative”, referring to Zuraida, who is also the plantation industries and commodities minister.
On Wednesday, Sng insisted he was still the president of PBM and will be signing the “surat watikah” (appointment letter of candidates) for the 15th general election (GE15).
He said he had not resigned from his position nor relinquished his party membership and would be defending the Julau seat in GE15 on a PBM ticket.
On Oct 8, FMT reported that Zuraida was installed as PBM president, a week after the party’s inaugural general assembly unanimously backed her to take over from Sng.
However, following the general assembly, Sng said he was shocked by Zakaria’s announcement that Zuraida, the former Ampang MP, had been officially appointed party president.
Nor Hizwan and Zakaria are believed to be closely linked to Zuraida. Nor Hizwan used to be her political secretary.
FMT is reaching out to Sng for comment.
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