Mahathir says ex-aide trying to weasel out of problems
Ex-Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad came out strongly in an interview with Malaysiakini, blasting his former political secretary over ‘lies’ the latter is spreading.
Denying all the allegations by Senator Muhammad Zahid Md Arip, Mahathir says the latter is the biggest liar in Malaysian politics.
Mahathir says the Senator has a problem and expected the ex-PM to solve the problems. But he says to the aid in Malaysia, “we follow the law, no matter if the party people are wrong.”
Zahid claims Mahathir was very happy with the fall of the Pakatan Harapan government and smiled contentedly with the “Sheraton move” which he supported.
Mahathir says the former aid wanted to change the government but failed to persuade him to join the ‘betrayers’.
“Zahid is the biggest liar in politics in Malaysia, he first supported Anwar (Ibrahim) then rejected Anwar, (later) supported me, then rejected me.
“Only for his own benefit, for that he is willing to lie in various ways. Yes he is trying to use me for his benefit. Because he has a problem, so I can not help.
“I said we in Malaysia we follow the law, no matter if the party people are wrong, it is wrong. But he is angry about that, he wants to try to change the government so that he is safe,” Mahathir says.
Zahid had earlier denied the allegations of being the trigger for the “Sheraton Step” which saw the fall of the PH government.
Instead, he said he had the blessing of Mahathir in joining hands with the plotters during the ‘Sheraton move’.
ZAHID AND MACC
Zahid was previously linked to corruption charges faced by former Felda chairman Isa Samad.
It is in connection with the purchase of a hotel in Kuching and was previously arrested by the MACC in August 2017 in connection with the purchase of a hotel and was remanded for eight days.
Nevertheless, Mahathir says Zahid was very happy with the fall of the PH and the formation of the Perikatan Nasional government.
“He cooperated with Hamzah Zainuddin to bring down the PH because it is said that this PH is controlled by DAP, (this) is not true at all. So if he can change the government, maybe he will survive. So for this he tried to persuade me but I never followed him,” says Mahathir.
STOPPING ANWAR NOT TRUE
Mahathir also denies he tried to stop Anwar Ibrahim from becoming PM and tried to sidelined the DAP.
“I want Anwar to lose, I want DAP to fall, all that is not true, I have no problem with DAP. Anwar has a problem with me, I have no problem with him (Anwar).
He said he also had no problem dealing with DAP.