Suhaili, who saw his Bersatu membership terminated after backing the unity government in 2023, said his support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was for the sake of obtaining constituency development funds.

Therefore, he said, returning to Bersatu was not on the cards.

Suhaili said he respected Hamzah as a friend and the opposition leader, but that was it.

“Returning to Bersatu is definitely not an option. I have no intention to do so as I am now pro-government,” he told FMT.

“When I left Bersatu, I didn’t say much. I made the decision to support the government to obtain allocations and because I believe in the prime minister’s leadership. I have stuck to this till this day.”

Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, who was suspended from Bersatu last month, had claimed that Suhaili and five other former Bersatu MPs who backed the government would return to the party if there was a change in leadership.

The other five MPs are Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang), Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang) and Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar).

Wan Fayhsal claimed that eight out of Bersatu’s 24 MPs backed calls for Muhyiddin to step down as party president and allow Hamzah to take over the top post.

Bersatu has been facing escalating tensions following the sacking of Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan and Wan Fayhsal’s suspension, amid an apparent leadership feud between Muhyiddin and Hamzah.

Sixteen Bersatu MPs wrote a joint letter to Muhyiddin on Oct 23, urging the former prime minister to intervene in the “internal issues” affecting the party to keep it from becoming the “victim of any leader’s ego”.

On Tuesday, the Bersatu Supreme Council unanimously agreed to work collectively to resolve the internal bickering “based on mutual respect and good understanding, with a firm commitment to upholding the party constitution”.