Parti Pejuang defends Dr M after Azmin’s interview

PETALING JAYA: Parti Pejuang Tanah Air insists former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had no part in wanting to set up Perikatan Nasional, as alleged by Senior Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.

In a Facebook post, Pejuang Information chief Ulya Aqamah Husamudin instead claimed Perikatan was a plot by Azmin and Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to overthrow the Pakatan Harapan government.

“A few days before the Pakatan Harapan presidential council’s final meeting, Azmin informed about a ploy to oust Dr Mahathir and if anything were to happen, he would leave the meeting.

“However, during the council meeting, that (the alleged overthrow) did not happen.

“Instead, Pakatan agreed to support Dr Mahathir and a proper transition plan was discussed.

“Dr Mahathir did not want to break his promise (to allow PKR President Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to succeed him and accept support from kleptocrats,” said Ulya.

He further said in the Facebook post that Dr Mahathir also did not want to leave Pakatan as he had the full support of Pakatan MPs then.

Ulya claimed Azmin and Muhyiddin went ahead and left Pakatan despite then Bersatu leaders such as Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman and himself staying on.

“Instead of cancelling all the overthrow plans, Muhyiddin and Azmin led the gathering of MPs in Sheraton Hotel, Petaling Jaya,” said Ulya.

He said Dr Mahathir had asked Syed Saddiq to convey his opposition to Azmin at Sheraton then.

“Having lost command of his own party due to the betrayal and not wanting to be part of the Sheraton Move (on Feb 23), Dr Mahathir resigned (on Feb 24),” said Ulya.