Blogger claims there’s a plot to oust Dr M via no-confidence vote

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PETALING JAYA: A social activist and blogger is alleging that a plot is being hatched from within Pakatan Harapan to oust the Prime Minister via a vote of no confidence.

Mujahidin Zulkiffli claimed that he first heard about the plot to oust Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad a few weeks ago from “his sources”.

“Some factions are covertly planning to pull a coup most likely via a vote of no confidence in Parliament on Tun M’s (Dr Mahathir) leadership,” Mujahidin posted on Facebook, without naming the persons involved.

He said that a former Umno minister had earlier tried to pull a coup against Dr Mahathir by organising support “for a certain future PM of Malaysia”.

However, his attempt failed when another former Umno minister helped Dr Mahathir stop the coup, which also resulted in the defection of a number of Umno lawmakers, he added.

Mujahidin said a current Cabinet minister then showed a photo of his family with the family of the pro-Dr Mahathir and ex-Umno minister having a holiday together.

He said this was a signal to express that a coup against the Prime Minister would not work.

Speaking to The Star, Mujahidin confirmed he had written the Facebook post, but declined to give further information.

In his post, he did not name names but it was reported how a photo on social media showing PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali and former Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and their families together on holiday overseas had tongues wagging.

“So now, another vote of no-confidence is in the planning. The Old Man (Dr Mahathir) then checks this plan by bringing seven Umno defectors into his party.

“Remember, there are about 30 more ready to jump ship,” wrote Mujahidin.

Mujahidin said his suspicions that an attempted coup was afoot was further strengthened when Dr Mahathir managed to get PAS officials, including its president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, to sign an agreement to support the Prime Minister in case there is a vote of no-confidence.

“Why would the Old Man (Dr Mahathir) make such an unpopular move to meet PAS leaders? This has to be big,” he added.

Mujahidin wrote that while many will blame Dr Mahathir for bringing Umno members into Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, they should ask why the Prime Minister, who is chairman of Bersatu, feels the need to strengthen his position.

Mujahidin did not name Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim but pointed out that there was an agreement for Dr Mahathir to serve as prime minister before handing over power to the PKR president.

“There’s no binding timeline but he himself (Dr Mahathir) kept repeating it’s two years. It's almost a year already.

“But the thing is, not even a year and someone has pulled some moves against him at least twice,” he wrote on Facebook.

Mujahidin said Dr Mahathir's move to pull Umno lawmakers into Bersatu will not be popular, but the strategy made sense.

“It will not be a popular move but I get it. I'd probably do the same if someone kept trying to (stab) me from behind.

“And worse, I think he now has the numbers to turn the table completely around if that vote of no-confidence is brought up in Parliament.

“I hope no one is stupid enough to try it. You can make him a villain but you're actually the cause of it,” he added.

On his Facebook page profile, Mujahidin identified himself as the managing director of New Malaysia Times.

He also listed his previous jobs in TalentCorp Malaysia as well as in the insurance and financial sectors.