KUALA LUMPUR— 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. MALAY MAIL

Don’t be defensive in taking on opposition, Anwar tells unity govt leaders

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says party leaders should fight the ‘evil propaganda and slander’ wholeheartedly.

Anwar Ibrahim said there had never been any conflict over issues touching on Malays and Islam during Cabinet meetings.

GURUN: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has called for unity government party leaders not to be on the defensive against attacks by the opposition when campaigning in the upcoming state elections.

He said Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN), especially Umno, should not give up and instead counter the attacks wholeheartedly.

“Previously, their propaganda was that they (Perikatan Nasional) were ‘clean’ and we did not say much. Some of our youngsters thought they were truly ‘clean’.

“However, as the finance minister, I have seen the files. Previously, I was the opposition leader, I attacked strongly, but it never occurred to me what they did.

“With gambling, people said it’s normal. During PN’s time, with PAS and Bersatu there, there were 22 special draws (by 4D numbers gaming operators).

“During our time, one of the first things I did with Datuk Zahid (deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) was to reduce them to eight (draws). This is no small matter,” he said at the launch of the Kedah unity government election machinery in Guar Chempedak, near here, last night.

Anwar said the government had solved many issues and was still addressing problems in various fields, including in agriculture and transportation, in the last eight months since taking over Putrajaya.

He added that throughout his tenure as prime minister, there had never been any conflict over issues touching on Malays and Islam during Cabinet meetings.

“The unity government has never sacrificed the principles enshrined in the Federal Constitution. It’s just gossip (by PN) that we will betray our people’s trust.

“Show me an instance where we have betrayed Islam, state an example where we have neglected the Malays. There is none. There is only evil propaganda and slander out there.

“I urge the people of Kedah to rise up and reject such slander, such betrayal, and stand up for the good of the people,” he said.

Also present at the event were Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, Pakatan Harapan secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Zahid, who is also Umno president, and other party leaders from the unity government. FMT

MALAY MAIL / FREE MALAYSIA TODAY