MACC says it received report on alleged corrupt practices by Zahid in 2018 Umno election

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi claimed Pahang elected representatives were being enticed with money to leave Barisan Nasional.

The Umno president claimed this was being done as part of a plot to topple the BN state government.

He claimed there were enemies in the party, who had “threatened and cajoled” BN members of parliament (MPs) and assemblymen to turn against the Pahang government.

“I would like to inform the people in Pahang that we have enemies among us... I am not blaming anyone, but we have to be careful.

“We need to prevent our MPs and assemblymen from crossing over.

“There are those who have met ‘that person’,” he said, without clarifying whom he meant.

Zahid said as a former minister in charge of the police and army, he wished to remind party members to be on the alert about what was going on.

“The efforts are underway. The meetings have been held.

“We have someone who witnessed the meeting. Now, we must ensure these people remain with BN,” he said during a retreat for the Temerloh Umno division.

His speech was reported by MediaUmno on its Umno Online site.

Zahid said the Pahang Umno leadership must do something before it was too late.

The embattled Umno president likened the crisis the party was facing to what happened during the Melaka sultanate’s downfall.

“Melaka fell to the Dutch and Portuguese purely because there were enemies from within.

“Don’t worry about me. I will remain with Umno regardless of the decision I make on whether to remain as party president,” he said, adding that he wanted to see Umno remain relevant in the political landscape.

He said regardless of who took over the party leadership after this, he wanted to see Umno recapture Putrajaya.

The former deputy prime minister has come under attack from Umno members, who have called for him to make way following an exodus of Umno parliamentarians, ex-leaders and party members in recent days.

Those who left cited a loss of confidence in Zahid’s leadership, accusing him of failing to chart the party’s future plans to regain power.

However, there were those who claimed that Umno leaders who abandoned the party were paid to do so.

The New Sunday Times in a front-page report yesterday quoted Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull as saying that those making such claims should come forward. However, he said, those who wanted to lodge a report must have evidence.

The efforts are underway. The meetings have been held. We have someone who witnessed the meeting. Now, we must ensure these people remain with BN. DATUK SERI DR AHMAD ZAHID HAMIDI

Umno president