JELEBU: Former Umno vice-president, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein today said he will remain loyal to the party, despite speculations that he will leave the Barisan Nasional component member.
The Sembrong Umno division chief, reiterated that he has no plan to quit Umno.
Hishammuddin said despite having responded to previous speculations, doubts and assumptions that he would not join another political outfit, the issue continued to persist.
"This is the work of people who are never tired of making lies and slander not only against me, but also against other leaders in Umno.
"It is not surprising if such a (speculation) was started by outsiders... and more unfortunate, if it was the work of party insider,” he said in his speech at the opening of the Jelebu Umno division delegates meeting, here, today.
Present was Jelebu Umno chief Datuk Jalaluddin Alias who is also Jelebu Member of Parliament.
The former defence minister also said this was not the time for party members to fight among themselves.
He said at the same time, Umno should not waste time focusing on party leaders who had abandoned it, because such leaders had lost the support of the grassroots.
"The strength of the leaders come from the grassroots and the grassroots are the ones who can make the party stronger," he said.
On the identity of the Umno insider who allegedly sought to split the party, Hishammuddin declined elaborate, saying that if he had done so, he "would be no different from that individual".
Meanwhile, Hishammuddin said the presence of 12 Members of the Parliament at the division’s delegates' meet has put at ease speculations that they would be leaving the party.
Besides Jelebu, other Members of Parliament who attended the meet were Kuala Krau, Jasin, Kuala Kangsar, Jerantut, Gerik, Jempol, Tenggara, Maran, Cameron Highlands and Paya Besar.