No secret pact with Pakatan prior to GE15, says Ahmad Zahid

Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi delivering his presidential address during the Umno General Assembly 2022 at World Trade Centre on Friday. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has explained to delegates attending the Umno general assembly (AGM) as to why Umno had chosen to work with Pakatan Harapan and not with Perikatan Nasional post 15th General Election.

The Umno president revealed that there was no early understanding or secret pact that was signed with Pakatan prior to the GE15 or had acted unilaterally on such matters.

He explained that two days after the polls concluded, Umno had held separate discussions with both coalitions and presented its list of demands.

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He said among items in Umno's list of demands to both coalitions that the government was to be known as the "unity government of Malaysia".

"Pakatan had responded to us to state its agreement on main basic agendas however Perikatan in its response only stated that it was prepared to consider our demands," he said in his policy speech when opening the Umno AGM on Friday (Jan 13).

Ahmad Zahid said another reason why Umno could not work with Perikatan was because of what he described as “betrayal” that was committed by the coalition along with certain individuals in the party.

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He added that when rejecting Yang di-Pertuan Agong's decree to form a unity government, Perikatan chairman (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) had claimed that he had enough statutory declarations, including from Barisan Nasional, to form a government.

"This is despite the sworn statements and agreement documents that state that the seat belongs to the party.

"Because of this we have discussed and agreed to form a government together with Pakatan Harapan and our friends from Sabah and Sarawak," said Ahmad Zahid.

Prior to the GE15, Umno had prepared sworn statements for candidates to sign that the seats that they won would belong to the party and 'Aku Janji' letter of undertaking was signed to give mandate to the party leader to discuss the formation of the government, he added.