Don't drag Bersatu to cover up issue of alleged relationship with Zahid, Bersatu VP tells Anwar

PETALING JAYA: PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim should not drag Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) to cover up the issue of his alleged relationship with Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, says Datuk Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen.

The Bersatu vice-president said that Anwar's remarks show that he is desperate and is using his party as a “scapegoat” to cover up the main issue.

"He should not evade the main issue, as the rakyat only wants to know about the authenticity of the audio clip," he said when contacted on Thursday (April 8).

The audio clip of two voices sounding like those of Ahmad Zahid's and Anwar's went viral on Wednesday (April 7).

Mohd Rafiq said talk of a cooperation between the two leaders emerged when a purported letter signed by Ahmad Zahid backing the Opposition leader circulated as well as when Umno had ousted the former Mentri Besar of Perak from Bersatu.

"Most importantly, the public also wants to know whether any form of cooperation has already started and clarify the meetings held before the 15th General Election," added Mohd Rafiq.

Earlier, the Opposition leader said that the audio clip is the work of some quarters trying to fabricate slander aimed at bringing down Umno.

“They want to use this to fight Umno. They want to use my so-called conversation with Zahid for Bersatu to attack the Umno leadership. This is not me, ” said Anwar about the video.

“The spread of the audio clip is malicious and is the ugly plan of some people. It showed how desperate they are, to resort to fabricating slander, ” said Anwar in a tweet on Thursday.

Both Ahmad Zahid and Anwar have instructed their officers to lodge a police report over the audio clip.