KUALA LUMPUR: Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu says he was not pressured into relinquishing his post in the coming party elections to make way for Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.
Party secretary-general Hamzah is set to become Bersatu's new deputy president as he was the sole candidate for the post.
Ahmad Faizal, the former Perak menteri besar, said he was willing to sacrifice personal gain in the party's best interest.
"When I lost in Tambun (in the general election), I felt I would only be able to play a limited role at a parliamentary level," he told Berita Harian.
"Personal agendas are not important, I have heard people saying I was pressured or instructed (to forego defending his post) when in truth I made this decision after losing in Tambun."
Ahmad Faizal said his decision would benefit the party in its struggles.
He said throughout his political career, he has always been ready to make sacrifices, citing the time he lost majority support in the Perak state assembly which led to his resignation as menteri besar.
"I did not make noise because I was only concerned about the stability of the state government which was more important than my position.
"I also did not ask my party president (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) who was prime minister at the time to appoint me as a minister."
On July 14, the former youth and sports minister announced he would make way for Hamzah in the Bersatu polls.
Ahmad Faizal said Hamzah, the opposition leader in Parliament can play a greater role in bringing Bersatu's voice to the fore.
On the lack of contest for the two positions in the coming Bersatu polls, Ahmad Faizal said the party never barred anyone from contesting any position.
He said Bersatu treasured democracy, and that in his case, he was the one who proposed Hamzah as the candidate for the deputy president's post.