Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad
PETALING JAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has denied allegations that he told Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to dissolve Umno in 2018 because the party had "no future".
Dr Mahathir also said before Ahmad Zahid made such a claim, the Bagan Datuk MP should have backed up his remarks with proof.
ALSO READ: Dr M told me to dissolve Umno in 2018, says Zahid
"Show proof that I said such things," Dr Mahathir told a press conference held after meeting ferry operators on Wednesday (June 29) night in Langkawi, Kedah.
Ahmad Zahid, 69, claimed that Dr Mahathir wanted him to bring over all Umno members to join Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).
"In this meeting, Dr Mahathir said Umno had no future, Umno was dead, Umno had been rejected by the Malays and that Barisan Nasional was buried because there were only four component parties left from 13.
"He (Dr Mahathir) asked me to defect, leave Umno and join Bersatu. He said Umno could not be trusted.
"He asked for Umno to be dissolved and told me to inform the members to join Bersatu and for me to forget Umno," Ahmad Zahid was quoted as saying during his corruption trial involving Yayasan Akalbudi (YAB).
Ahmad Zahid said he dismissed Dr Mahathir's requests and said that if he (Ahmad Zahid) was destined to join Bersatu, he would "die tomorrow and his grave would flood".
