Individuals commit corruption, not parties, says Hamzah
The Wawasan president says when a member is accused of being corrupt, the party should not be painted with the same brush.
Source: Free Malaysia Today · August 14, 2026 at 4:08 AM · AI-assisted report
KUALA LUMPUR, 14 AUGUST 2026 —
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Hamzah Zainudin: Corruption Allegations Against Individuals Should Not Taint Entire Parties
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KUALA LUMPUR — Parti Wawasan Negara president Hamzah Zainudin has reiterated that corruption allegations against individuals should not be used to discredit entire political parties, emphasizing that parties entering cooperation agreements should not be judged based on the misconduct of their members.
Speaking to Free Malaysia Today on August 14, Hamzah, who is also Perikatan Nasional (PN) deputy chairman, stated that corruption is an individual act and should not be conflated with the collective reputation of a political party. He made the remarks amid ongoing scrutiny over the Barisan Nasional (BN)-PN cooperation, which secured 25 of 36 seats in the Negeri Sembilan state election earlier this month, predominantly in Malay-majority constituencies.
The BN-PN alliance, framed around a Malay-Muslim unity narrative, has faced criticism due to past corruption allegations linked to BN’s federal government tenure, which ended in 2018. Key controversies include the 1MDB scandal and the recently declassified Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH), released on July 29. The RCI report, finalized four years prior, highlighted governance failures, investment weaknesses, and financial mismanagement at TH, recommending a full organizational overhaul.
Hamzah acknowledged that national unity remains a priority for future elections but stressed that demographic realities must shape political strategies to ensure inclusivity. He argued that uniting the majority community first could establish a foundation for broader national consensus. “If the majority is not united, it will be difficult for us to ensure that we achieve the goal of becoming a developed nation,” he said.
Wawasan, he added, is positioned to act as a bridge between political parties, aiming to serve as a unifying force in Malaysia’s political landscape. “This is part of Wawasan’s agenda: to serve as a main pillar and play a leading role,” Hamzah stated.
The BN-PN cooperation has drawn mixed reactions, with critics questioning its viability given historical corruption allegations. However, Hamzah maintained that cooperation should not be undermined by past wrongdoings of individuals, asserting that parties must be evaluated separately from their members’ actions.
Details not yet available on how this stance will influence future electoral strategies or public perception.