‘Don’t destabilise the party’

Show of skills: Dr Ahmad Zahid (in blue baju melayu) watching a silat presentation before the Tampin Umno division meeting. Jempol Umno chief Senator Datuk Salim Sharif (on Ahmad Zahid’s left) also attended the meeting. — Bernama

LUMUt: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is not the party leader who is trying to topple Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, said Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Instead, Dr Ahmad Zahid claimed the alleged perpetrator is an orang tua (old man) from Umno, though he stopped short of naming the person whom he said has a big ambition and wants to form a unity government with the Opposition.

“He is trying to enter through the back door. We will not allow it.

“Be a man, and enter through the front door,” he said during the opening of the Lumut Umno AGM here last night.

“There’ll be no compromise if any Umno leader wants to work with the Opposition to topple the Government,” he said.

“I would rather bleed than have a back door government and a puppet Prime Minister,” said Dr Ahmad Zahid, who added he has proof that the Opposition wants to entice Barisan Nasional MPs to join them in forming a unity government, and they would likely make their move when Najib tables the Budget in October.

“They need to have a simple majority with 112 representatives to form the government. They want to get 37 Barisan MPs to cross over,” said Dr Ahmad Zahid, who said he has this information as the Home Minister.

Dr Ahmad Zahid said his information on a plan to bring down the Barisan government was correct as it was conveyed to him by an individual who sat in a meeting supposedly held to discuss the plan.

Dr Ahmad Zahid reminded party members not to blame Muhyiddin as he was not involved.

“I and Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir are close with Tan Sri, whom we respect as deputy president. We will not pijak (step on) those that have fallen,” he added.

Earlier in the day, Dr Ahmad Zahid told Tampin Umno members in Johor that they should only pass resolutions that strengthen the party, and not those that destablise it.

On Saturday, the division’s youth wing unanimously passed a resolution calling Najib to step down as Prime Minister and party president.

Dr Ahmad Zahid said this was unwarranted as the probe into 1Malaysia Development Bhd had not been completed..

“I know as Pemuda, we are often critical and bold,” he said as he appealed for rational thinking from the ground.

“But when we present our views on party-related matters, we must always remember that Umno comes first and that we must always defend our leaders