“You know, it’s quite well known that the president wants to hand over the baton to me when he is ready,” Hamzah said in an interview with BFM.
However, the opposition leader said the question of when this leadership transition will take place was up to Muhyiddin, comparing it to a relay race.
“The question is about transition and that depends on the president, when he actually wants to hand over the baton.
“For me, it depends on him. I’m just waiting. It’s like the 4×100 (relay), maybe I am the second runner and he’s the first. I’m just waiting while he’s (still president). Once he passes the baton, then I will take it and run,” he said.
He was asked if there were any discussions between him and Muhyiddin on taking over the leadership of Bersatu.
Hamzah reiterated that he has made his support for Muhyiddin as Bersatu president clear, as stated during his speech during the party’s recent annual general meeting.
“There should be no more questions about that because I gave my full support to my president,” he said.
Asked if there was political purging in Bersatu after the sacking of Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan and the suspension of Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, Hamzah played this down as merely internal bickering, which was common in any political party.
“I hope the internal political bickering about (the party’s) leadership will settle soon rather than prolong,” he said.
On speculation that there were three factions aligned with Muhyiddin, party secretary-general Azmin Ali and himself, Hamzah said this merely showed that Bersatu had multiple capable leaders in its fold.
“I am happy because it shows there are leaders in Bersatu that are recognised by the people,” he said.
Bersatu has been facing escalating tensions following the disciplinary action taken against Wan Saiful and Wan Fayhsal, amid an apparent leadership feud between Muhyiddin and Hamzah.
The party’s disciplinary board had also expelled four division chiefs – Azrudin Idris (Hang Tuah Jaya), Faizal Asmar (Pengerang), Fadhli Ismail (Ipoh Timur) and Isa Saidi (Ampang).
Wan Saiful had accused several figures close to Muhyiddin of straining ties among the party’s top leaders, singling out Azmin and party information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz.
Muhyiddin has, meanwhile, faced calls to step down as party president, including from Supreme Council member and Indera Mahkota MP Saifuddin Abdullah.