Why didn't Pakatan protest when Zahid was charged, asks Dr M


PETALING JAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is questioning why Pakatan Harapan ministers did not protest when Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was charged if they believe the nonagenarian had abused his powers when he was prime minister.

The former premier slammed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim over his interview with Bloomberg over the discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) granted to the Deputy Prime Minister.

"If I had misused my powers and ordered the prosecutor at the time to pressure Ahmad Zahid, why didn't any ministers or leaders from Pakatan – Anwar included – question the matter? Many other Cabinet ministers then were from Pakatan and PKR.

"If they were scared to say anything then, it is quite comical that when it came to handing the prime minister position over to Anwar, they were spirited and loud," said Dr Mahathir.

He added everyone supported the charges then as it was done according to the rule of law.

He also confirmed that he had told the Umno president to dissolve the party.

"It is true I told Ahmad Zahid to dissolve Umno because I was certain he would use the party as a tool, a bargaining chip, to prevent himself from being charged with corruption," he said.

He also alleged that Ahmad Zahid did so twice during Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's and Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob's tenures as prime minister.

He claimed when Muhyiddin disagreed, Ahmad Zahid withdrew Umno's support.

He then claimed that during Ismail Sabri's tenure, Ahmad Zahid attempted it again but the then-prime minister believed public sentiment was against the Umno president.

"Because of that, Ismail Sabri dissolved Parliament to trigger the (2022) general election," he claimed.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In Nation

No plans to raise retirement age for civil servants, says minister
Fair to all on Friday: Netizens laud Johor's two-hour break
Policeman charged with stealing jewellery from deceased woman
Sabah to restore 400,000ha of degraded forest as timber plantations
Two brothers plead not guilty for causing fire through fireworks in Teluk Intan
Airlines in Asean to have stopover rights in all member states soon, says Loke
Water supply disruptions, land prices among challenges in Penang's Silicon Valley ambitions
Taiwan court orders murderer of Malaysian student to pay family compensation of RM876,000
Arraignment of Syrian national in British passport forgery case postponed
Natural Resources Ministry reaffirms goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050

Others Also Read