Lokman: Dr M using Amla to weaken Umno
KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is using the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act (Amla) to weaken Umno, claims Umno supreme council member Datuk Lokman Noor Adam.
He said the Prime Minister was doing this on purpose before he hands over power to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“Tun Dr Mahathir realises that like it or not, he has to be ready to hand over the reins of power to Anwar.
“If he does not hand over the reins, Anwar might work with other parties, such as Umno and PAS to form a ‘ Pakatan Baru’ government.
“To prevent that, he (Dr Mahathir) is taking early steps by using Amla to pressure the entire Umno leadership who have received contributions from Najib,” he said.
Lokman added that by doing so, this would ensure Anwar did not have the needed number of MPs with him to form a new government.
He also claimed that more Umno MPs would leave the party this month to join Dr Mahathir’s Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.
“From 54, now we’re left with 49 MPs and more, I heard, will leave this month to join Dr Mahathir.
“Some have been offered positions, others maybe large wages, but some like Tok Pa (Jeli MP Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed), he was questioned here.
“After that, Tun Daim Zainuddin asked him whether he wanted to leave Umno, or be charged in court,” he claimed.
Lokman added that Mustapa had only accepted money to assist the orang asli community.
He also claimed that despite the 32 charges of money laundering, criminal breach of trust and bribery Najib faces, he heard that he would face at least up to 100 charges to silence him from criticising Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng and Dr Mahathir over their economic policies.
When queried about his sources for his claims, Lokman said he was the Finance Ministry’s communications director before the 14th General Election.
“So we still have our friends there (in the Finance Ministry), we still have our friends in the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) and police,” he said.
Lokman also claimed that former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was rumoured to face charges in court as well.