Former Pahang MB slams Zahid’s claims over defections

KUANTAN: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s allegation that there were attempts to woo Pahang Barisan Nasional MPs and assemblymen to defect has drawn a sharp reply from the former mentri besar.

Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob described the Umno president’s statement as too random and said that as far as he knew, neither Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein nor Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin had contacted anyone in Pahang to persuade them to leave the party.

“Don’t add enemies. I am thinking about the fate of my Mentri Besar (Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail), who I regard as a younger brother.

“I want to say that I do not have that much influence. I was only a mentri besar for 19 years. But if I were to declare myself as an independent today, a large number of assemblymen would follow me.

“I am not boasting. The Pahang Barisan government could fall,” Adnan said in a message that went viral on social media.

However, the Pelangi assemblyman said this was not his intention as he was still a loyal Umno member.

“It is just that Umno does not look fresh,” he added.

Ahmad Zahid reportedly said at the Temerloh Umno retreat recently that there were wolves in sheep’s clothing in Pahang.

He claimed that there were already meetings between the assemblymen and “that person”, but did not mention any name.

He also said as a former minister in charge of the police and army, he wished to remind party members to be on the alert.

Adnan admitted that he had met with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, but only on the latter’s invitation.

“Before meeting Tun, I informed the Regent and my Mentri Besar. The half-hour meeting revolved around the future of the Malays.

“I only met Tun once. The president met Tun more than once,” he said, adding that there was no need to be a minister of home affairs or defence just to obtain information.