Zahid slams viral audio clip as 'evil political play', says will lodge police report

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic) has denied having a phone conversation with PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim over the former's performance at the recent Umno annual general meeting (AGM).

"I am disappointed and shocked by the viral audio clip which allegedly is a recorded conversation between me and Anwar.

"I strongly deny that there was such a conversation, as in the audio clip, and would like to stress that there have not been any conversations between me and Anwar after the Umno AGM recently, ” the Umno president said in a statement Wednesday (April 7).

"I have ordered my officer to quickly file a police report to allow investigations to find out the mastermind behind this ‘scheme'," he said.

Ahmad Zahid was referring to a leaked audio clip of two voices similar to his and Anwar's discussing the former's speech during the recent Umno AGM on March 28 that had gone viral.

Ahmad Zahid said the recording was a political attempt to weaken Umno.

"This is a political play which is evil and proves that there are continuous efforts to weaken and destroy Umno.

"I believe more dirty tricks such as this will continue to try to belittle and destroy Umno.

"As Umno president, I will not violate or turn my back on whatever that has been decided by the Umno supreme council and the Umno AGM," he said.

Earlier Wednesday (April 7), an audio clip of a conversation between two voices sounding like Ahmad Zahid and Anwar went viral.

On the audio clip, two voices can be heard congratulating and thanking each other for having put up a good performance during the Umno AGM and discussed the possible resignation of Umno ministers as well as the exit of Umno from the Perikatan Nasional government.