An Umno supreme council member has claimed that Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad's surprise appearance at the Reformis Convention last Saturday was only a front to further destroy jailed PKR de-facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.
Despite Mahathir's reconciliation with Anwar, Department of Special Affairs (Jasa) director-general Mohd Puad Zarkashi claimed that the Bersatu chairperson still harboured the intention to "destroy" his former deputy.
"Evidence of sodomy was used as a weapon to destroy Anwar.
"So do not be surprised if Mahathir's presence at the convention was only a farcical move to continue destroying Anwar, because he is allergic to the term 'Reformasi'," he claimed.
Puad further claimed that Mahathir's presence had caused confusion among Anwar's supporters.
Mahathir was greeted by cheers and jeers with some shouting "Reformasi" (Reformation), "Bebas Anwar" (Free Anwar) and "firaun" (pharaoh).
Puad pointed out how Mahathir had been against street demonstrations during his 22-year tenure as prime minister, but has now changed his stand.
"But at this convention, Tun M (Mahathir) was shamelessly present, eventhough in 1998 he was labelled as 'mahazalim' (cruel).
"At the time, he claimed that demonstration is not our culture," said Puad.
The convention was organised by Otai Reformis - a group of Anwar's staunch supporters who have been a part of the 1998 Reformasi movement and now fighting for his freedom from a five-year jail sentence, following a second sodomy conviction.
The Reformasi movement, started by Anwar after he was sacked, began as a campaign urging Mahathir's resignation and the end of corruption in government.
Puad, meanwhile, also claimed that Mahathir's unhappiness with Anwar was based on the latter's alleged attempts in 1998 to incite a protest against him.
Puad said Anwar had in the past alleged he was sacked from Mahathir's administration as the latter felt threatened by the calls for his resignation.
Among others, Puad claimed that Anwar had in a speech to launch an Umno convention in Pulau Sibu, Johor, in 1998, urged members to emulate Indonesia's Reformasi movement against its former president Soeharto.- Mkini
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