CAMERON POLLS | Former Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein said today that all the speculation about his future in the party has been proven wrong.

"If before there was speculation that I would be quitting (Umno), here I am now in Cameron Highlands campaigning.

"If there were those who said I would be joining Bersatu, that did not happen. There was also talk that I would be bringing tens of MPs out of Umno, but only a handful have left.

"So stop speculating, they have not become reality and were mere slander," he told reporters in Brinchang.

Hishammuddin said this during a walkabout with the deputy presidents of MIC and MCA, M Saravanan and Mah Hang Soon, as part of BN's campaign for the Jan 26 by-election.

When asked about a recent photograph of him with PKR deputy president Mohamad Azmin Ali in Morocco, he pointed to a more recent photograph of him having dinner with Umno leaders Najib Abdul Razak, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Mohamad Hasan.

The latter photograph quelled speculation on his future in Umno, he said, adding that the Cameron Highlands by-election will be an opportunity for the party to close ranks.

On rumours that the six lawmakers who quit Umno last month may return to the fold, Hishammuddin said he had nothing to do with them.

"I did not get any information from the six MPs, and I don't think it is appropriate to make a fuss.

"Even if they want to return, where are they to put their reputation when we talk about it publicly?

"If they are sincere, they can come back on their own accord. It's now on social media and we also have our honour," he said.

Umno man asks Hisham to declare loyalty to the party

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Hisham denies engineering Umno exodus

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