Source: Zahid unveils MPs who signed SDs to support Muhyiddin

Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday called out the 10 members of parliament from the party, who signed statutory declarations (SDs) backing Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as their prime minister candidate after the 15th General Election (GE15).

Zahid revealed the names of the MPs, whom he claimed had turned their backs on the party, when he delivered a special briefing to some 3,000 delegates at Dewan Merdeka of the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur here.

Sources said six of the 10 MPs called out by Zahid during the closed-door briefing were from Umno and the remainder were from other Barisan Nasional component parties.

“The party president made the revelation when he explained the events which unfolded between the time the GE15 results were announced and the day Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was announced as the country’s 10th prime minister,” the source, who attended the two-hour briefing, said.

According to the same source, Zahid identified the MPs by naming the constituencies won by the party leaders during the Nov 19 election.

Other sources claimed the constituencies Zahid alleged had signed the SDs to support Muhyiddin were Sembrong , Simpang Renggam, Tampin, Jelebu,

Jempol and Kuala Pilah.

Also mentioned by Zahid during the briefing were Ayer Hitam, Tanjung Piai, Tapah and Pensiangan.

“The party president said the MPs signed the SDs without asking permission from the party,” the source said.

Sources also said party delegates inside the Merdeka hall shouted and started booing when the party president named the MPs.

“The president, however, stressed that he wanted to leave the ‘episode’ behind and urged all party leaders and members to close ranks and strengthen the party.

“The president also stressed how unity in Umno was important for the party to rise from its dismal performance in GE15 and focus on the state election in six states namely Kedah, Penang, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Kelantan and Terengganu,” the sources said.

Attempts to get comments from Zahid proved futile when he left the special briefing without speaking to reporters who were gathering in front of the entrance to Dewan Merdeka.

Several Umno leaders who attended the briefing also refused to comment when asked on the matter.

Umno supreme council member Isham Jalil, when pursued over the matter, said he could not comment on what was discussed during the special briefing.

“This is an internal discussion. Therefore, I reserve my comments on that,” said Isham, who is also Umno information chief.

However, he said the mood among party delegates inside the hall was good and cordial.

“I think many delegates reacted positively to the speech delivered by the party president in the closed-door briefing,” he said.

Federal Territories Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the president stressed that he did not want any elements of “treason” to bring down the party.

“The president does not want people from Umno to support any other parties when Umno is contesting (in any elections).”