SACK ZAHID: No, my wife did not threaten army veterans, says defense minister

Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has refuted a claim that his wife had threatened a group of army veterans who want him sacked as defence minister, saying she was only advising them against carrying out their protest rally this Friday.

The Malay Army Veterans Association (PVTM) had planned to demonstrate their anger at Ahmad Zahid (picture) outside the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) on June 29 for allegedly breaking his promise to set up a special pension fund for retired soldiers, but cancelled it after their president, Datuk Mohd Ali Bahrom, said he had been threatened by the minister’s wife through a text message.

“My wife and Ali are from the same village. They know each other even though they are not related.

“I asked my wife how many text messages Ali sent (to her), she told me 16, because Ali is fond of sending text messages to anyone, including my wife.

“So my wife advised him, but Ali only highlighted one sentence and after I read it, I don’t think that it is a threat,” Ahmad Zahid was quoted as saying by news portal Malaysiakini today.

Don't try to be funny SMS

On June 22, Mohd Ali told reporters he had received a threatening text message on his mobile phone from Datin Seri Hamidah Khamis, Ahmad Zahid’s wife.

The message read: “‘PERLU DIINGAT.. DATO’ SERI AHMAD ZAHID HAMIDI BUKAN SENDIRI DAN BERMARUAH’.... Saya tak fikir org2 akan berdiam diri dan senang2 nak buat kacau bilau depan MINDEF (Remember.. Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is not alone and has dignity.... I don’t think people will be silent and let chaos happen in front of Mindef).”

Mohd Ali had led some 10 former soldiers in a provocative butt exercise demonstration against electoral reform movement Bersih chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan outside her Damansara Heights home here last May 15, claiming the prominent lawyer-activist was an “enemy” of the state.

He had planned on holding a similar exhibition against Ahmad Zahid outside Mindef in three days until he allegedly got Hamidah’s “advice” and found out the minister would not be in his office.

Special pension and 136 hours to respond

Mohd Ali had previously hit out at Putrajaya for alleged lopsided treatment in handing out its Warriors’ Day funds to the armed forces’ club presidents and outlined a list of 11 demands including setting up a special pension fund for those who retired from the military without being paid a pension.

He had given Ahmad Zahid 136 hours to reply to PVTM’s demands, failing which he would press Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to sack the Umno minister from government.

The rumbles of unhappiness from former soldiers ahead of national elections that must be called by next year come at a crucial time when Najib, a former defence minister, is looking to shore up greater support for the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition from within the establishment after losing four states and its traditional two-thirds control of Parliament to the opposition in Election 2008.