UMNO president Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today admitted to being the mastermind behind the move to oust Dr Mahathir Mohamad from the prime minister post during Pakatan Harapan’s time in power.
This, he claimed, was done as Dr Mahathir, during his second stint as prime minister, had wanted to de-register Umno.
Speaking at the Cameron Highlands Umno delegates meeting in Sungai Koyan on Saturday, Zahid claimed that at the time, he had information that Umno was about to be banned.
“At Felda Sungai Koyan in Jelai here today, I want to tell you this.
“I admit that I was the mastermind who toppled Dr Mahathir at the time, for the sake of Umno.
“Umno was slandered, insulted and had various accusations hurled at it. They called us robbers, corrupt, and more,” he said, referring to Umno’s time as the opposition after Barisan Nasional lost the 2018 general election.
Zahid, who is also deputy prime minister, said the threat to Umno was recently confirmed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at a meeting with Umno leaders at ILMU (Institut Latihan Memperkasakan Umno) in Janda Baik.
Anwar, he claimed, told the Umno leaders that the papers to ban Umno were already on the home minister’s desk.
The home minister then was Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is now Perikatan Nasional chairman.
“The Umno members turned to me and placed their trust in me to find a solution. I had to find a way. In the 22 months as the opposition, our accounts were frozen, and 11 of our leaders were dragged to court. We were almost technically bankrupt.
“I had to find a way for us to become part of the government,” he said.
Zahid said he had, during the 2018 Umno general assembly, told the delegates that Umno would become part of the government, if not the government, in the near future, but was ridiculed by some.
“And today, Umno is still alive and strong. I have to tell this, otherwise not many will know of my struggle day and night
“I have to say this today because the insults from within and outside (of Umno) have not stopped,” he said.
However, Zahid stopped short of linking his role to the Sheraton Mover in Feb 2020, which saw the downfall of the PH government and Dr Mahathir’s resignation after 22 months in power.
He also did not disclose the specific role he played in allegedly orchestrating Dr Mahathir’s departure.
PH was replaced by the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition led by Muhyiddin, and included BN members of parliament.
Zahid claimed he wasn’t singing his own praises but was only doing so to uphold the responsibility and trust placed in him by former prime minister and ex-Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak after the latter resigned in 2018.
He claimed party-related decisions were made only after consulting Umno’s supreme council and political bureau.
Zahid also claimed the term ‘Perikatan Nasional’ was derived from the former political coalition ‘Perikatan’, while ‘Nasional’ was taken from Barisan Nasional.
“I proposed the name PN. The idea did not come from Muhyiddin,” he said, referring to the previous PN government.
Meanwhile, Zahid said what he has shared constituted only 10 per cent of the full story.
He said he would also disclose more about a meeting that he and Pas president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang had at Dr Mahathir’s house, in his book once he retires.
“People usually write books when they retire but I’m not retiring yet. As long as Umno has yet to become a dominant party in the elections, my friends and I will remain to strengthen the party,” he said.
