A dramatic twist
Dr Ahmad Zahid reveals that he has a voice recording of his meeting with the person who wanted him to topple the PM.
He must have forgotten what he did to me but I still remember everything. I was the deer which was once trapped anda I will not forget the trap
Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
ALOR SETAR: In a dramatic twist, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has revealed that he has a voice recording of his meeting with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, during which he was accused of having planned to topple his boss.
Defending himself against accusations that he had once planned to topple the Prime Minister, Dr Ahmad Zahid, who did not name Dr Mahathir, said it was instead the “individual” who suggested to him to do so by a vote of noconfidence.
Speaking at the Umno Jerlun delegates meeting here yesterday, Dr Ahmad Zahid pointed out that he never once at any time suggested that Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak be toppled, reiterating that it was the individual who suggested it to him.
“I was even told by that individual, if that did not work, then the particular individual would hand in a memorandum to the Malay Rulers to sack the Prime Minister.
“Imagine, I had only been appointed as the Deputy Prime Minister for 10 days when that meeting was held with the individual... what logic do I have to oust the PM.
“There was no secrecy in that meeting too. The PM also knew about the meeting. In fact, I had obtained the greenlight from him before going to meet the individual,” he said.
Dr Ahmad Zahid, the Umno vicepresident who is carrying out the duties of the deputy, said the meeting took place in 2015 and two years later it was being manipulated.
“I knew such a thing could happen as once upon a time I was disliked by this individual during my time as the (Umno) Youth chief.
“I was also detained under the ISA and forced to resign as this person did not like me,” he said.
“He must have forgotten what he did to me but I still remember everything. I was the deer which was once trapped and I will not forget the trap,” he added.
Dr Ahmad Zahid said he did not bring up the matter as the individual was a wellrespected person and was still in Umno.
“Don’t try to create enmity between the PM and me. We have known each other for long and we go a long way. I do not have any motive to oust Najib and I respect him. I do not bite the hand that feeds,’’ he said.
Dr Mahathir had recently alleged that during his meeting with Dr Ahmad Zahid, the latter had asked for his support to replace Najib.
Dr Ahmad Zahid urged the particular individual to start speaking the truth, saying as the day will come when the people will know the truth.
He also called upon Kedahans to stop being deceived that Barisan Nasional wrested Kedah from PAS because of two individuals (Dr Mahathir and his son Datuk Seri Mukhriz).
“Such stories were untrue as winning back the state was a collective effort of all Barisan members and Umno. Such tales are an insult to the intelligence of Kedahans,’’ he added.
Dr Ahmad Zahid also agreed that it was time to put a stop to having “parachuted” candidates for the Jerlun parliamentary seat.
“It is time that we consider having a local from Jerlun to contest as there are enough candidates of calibre,” he said, adding that he endorsed the “Jerlun for Jerlun” tagline.
The Jerlun parliamentary seat has seen many Umno outsiders contesting, which included Mukhriz who won the seat in 2008.