Petaling Jaya: The Home Ministry will take stern action against those plotting to topple the Government, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
In a written reply to Kulim – Bandar Baharu MP Datuk Abdul Aziz Sheikh Fadzir at the Dewan Rakyat, the Home Minister said it was a serious matter as it put the country’s economy at risk.
He said it was illegal for anyone to use undemocratic ways to try to bring down a government elected by the people.
“The Government will not hesitate to take action, using laws such as the Penal Code, Security Measures Act (Special Measures) 2012 (Sosma) and Sedition Act.”
Abdul Aziz had asked the Home Minister whether the alleged complot to topple the Government was connected to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd controversy.
He had also wanted to know what the relation was between the two, if there was a link, and how the Government planned to fight it.
In August, Dr Ahmad Zahid exposed an alleged plot by the Opposition to topple the Government, and that the plotters were led by a leader who remains unnamed.
He said their plan was to get statutory declarations from Opposition MPs and pull in support from Barisan Nasional lawmakers to topple the Government.
Recently, former Batu Kawan Umno vice-chief Khairuddin Abu Hassan and his lawyer Matthias Chang were charged with trying to sabotage the country’s banking and financial systems.
Speaking to reporters, Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said only a communist party would obsessively track its followers’ movements.
He was commenting on ongoing investigations by the Umno disciplinary committee into seven party members who were alleged to have acted against the organisation.
“All organisations have rules, and they have the right to investigate members.
“But only communist organisations will track members’ movements, particularly organisations with weak leaders who want to ensure the members follow them,” he said.
Asked if he was ready to face the music if he was one of the seven, Tengku Razaleigh said he was.
“I have been in the party longer than any of those people in there.
“Also, I have been in Parliament longer than any of them,” he said.
On a possible plot within the party to remove deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Tengku Razaleigh said he had heard about it but didn’t know if it was true.
“It is up to the people to decide if he should be kicked out.
“They have their own way of doing things, each organisation would like to see its people follow the leader, that’s only natural.”
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said he had not heard of such a plot.
“Maybe he (Razaleigh) knows better and should come forward to inform the party’s secretary-general,” he said.
Asked why the monthly supreme council meeting was cancelled, Shahidan replied that there should be no malicious presumptions.
“It is cancelled, so it is cancelled,” he said.
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