Pages

Sunday, July 16, 2023

Anwar claims Dr M, Muhyiddin behind plot to ban Umno post GE14; now targeting Zahid to win votes for state polls





Anwar claims Dr M, Muhyiddin behind plot to ban Umno post GE14; now targeting Zahid to win votes for state polls




Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim speaking at the Madani Unity Tour program and the Kedah Unity machinery launch at the Guar Chempedak public field, July 16, 2023. — Bernama pic

Sunday, 16 Jul 2023 11:08 AM MYT



KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 — Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is the target of attacks from Perikatan Nasional (PN) because he learnt of a plot to ban Umno, according to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar, who leads the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition now in an alliance with the Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, told a crowd in Guar Chempedak, Kedah last night that the plot was masterminded by former prime ministers Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin after GE14 in 2018, Berita Ahad reported today.


“Let me tell my experience of how Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad dan Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin joined forces to ban Umno, I went to Muhyiddin’s house, it was tense. I opposed Umno at that time, but I disagreed with banning Umno,” he was quoted as saying at the Madani Unity Tour and Kedah Unity Machinery Launch.

Defending Umno, Anwar said it was his parents’ party of choice and that he could not “erase history and that there was no reason to ban it.


He claimed PN’s strategy now for next month’s six state elections is to attack Ahmad Zahid without disturbing Umno in order to gain votes from the nationalist party’s supporters.


Addressing the crowd in last night’s event, he asked if Umno supporters would be willing to vote for Bersatu now that they were aware their party is at risk of being banned if Muhyiddin returned to power.

He reminded those present that Bersatu had once asked Umno for help when it was weak.

“If it were strong, Umno will be banned because Bersatu was from the start established to replace Umno,” he was quoted as saying.

Anwar said he did not know why there were Umno members who hated Ahmad Zahid.

“Is it because he’s with the unity government? What is his fault? Is it because he pawned his principles to DAP?” he was quoted as asking.

Dr Mahathir and Muhyiddin who had co-founded Bersatu and later split in 2020, recently reunited to oppose Anwar’s “unity government”, which they claim to jeopardise Malay interests.

All three – Dr Mahathir, Muhyiddin, and Anwar – had once joined forces and been in the same PH coalition that won the 14th general election in 2018, defeating the then ruling BN.

Yesterday, Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin claimed that more high-ranking former Umno leaders are expected to join the party in time for the state polls next month.

He added that the leaders had previously held high-ranking senior posts in government, both state and federal, as well as internationally.

Among the former Umno veterans who are now with PN are Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim and Tan Sri Annuar Musa who joined PAS last month.

Selangor, Penang, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu will hold state elections on August 12.



No comments:

Post a Comment