Zahid demands apologies from Muhyiddin and Dr M

PARIT RAJA: Two former prime ministers – Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad – have been served letters of demand by Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Ahmad Zahid wants both of them to apologise over allegations made during recent talks in the Johor election.

His lawyers have sent the letters to them, he told reporters yesterday.

He maintained that he never went to see Muhyiddin with files of court documents.

Lawyers representing Ahmad Zahid, Messrs Shahrul Hamidi & Haziq, issued a statement yesterday, saying that the letters of demand were linked to remarks made by Muhyiddin on Feb 16 at Felda Tenggaroh, Johor, which they said were “unsubstantiated, malicious and defamatory”.

The notice dated Feb 23 states that Muhyiddin has been given seven days to stop the publication of his remarks and issue an open apology to Zahid, while pledging not to repeat those remarks again, they said.

On Feb 16, Muhyiddin had claimed during a ceramah that Ahmad Zahid had visited his home, bringing along files, and seeking help from him.

He said he refused to help, prompting Ahmad Zahid to back efforts to oust him as prime minister.

Muhyiddin quit as prime minister on Aug 15 last year after a group of Umno MPs, including Ahmad Zahid, withdrew their support for him, costing him his majority in the Dewan Rakyat.

In the case of Dr Mahathir, he told reporters on Feb 23 that Ahmad Zahid was looking for ways to drop corruption charges against him after Pakatan Harapan came to power.

Dr Mahathir claimed that Ahmad Zahid visited him at his house, along with three others.

Ahmad Zahid has denied these accusations.

He is facing 47 counts of money laundering, criminal breach of trust and bribery over tens of millions of ringgit belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi, a charitable organisation he founded.

He is also facing 40 charges of bribery involving more than RM43mil over a foreign visa system.