GE15 | Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s political rivals believe the mere mention of his name could swing votes in their favour.
Since the onset of the campaigning period, BN candidates have been attempting to deflect the claim that “a vote for them is a vote for Zahid” amid speculation that it would be the Umno president, and not Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who would become prime minister if the coalition wins.
MIC president SA Vigneswaran, hoping to reclaim the Sungai Siput seat in Perak, reiterated that Ismail Sabri, the third person in four years to hold the record of having the shortest stint as prime minister, is BN’s candidate for the top post.
He pointed out that Zahid himself had affirmed this.
Vigneswaran was also not impressed with Pakatan Harapan’s prime minister candidate Anwar Ibrahim being compared to Nelson Mandela, arguing that while the latter was imprisoned for fighting against apartheid in South Africa, the former, however, landed behind bars for a crime.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, whose chances of winning the Sungai Buloh seat have brightened due to Harapan’s lacklustre candidate, reminded his voters that a “vote for him is a vote for him” and not for Zahid.
Talk of Zahid, whom detractors claim is alarmed about having to dine with former premier Najib Abdul Razak in prison, gunning for the premiership intensified amid claims that BN candidates were asked to sign a letter of undertaking to support him on this matter.
It is alleged that as prime minister, he would be able to sidestep a conviction concerning his corruption case.
The document had circulated on social media but Umno denounced it as fake.
Even Ismail Sabri himself was forced to reassure voters that he would return as prime minister, and there have been no changes to this arrangement.
"This is just the opposition (parties) trying to create a perception although I have already said that it is the supreme council and general assembly that made the decision,” he said.
Harapan’s Zahid problem
On the other hand, Harapan’s adversaries are peddling the claim of a potential pact between Zahid and Anwar, who at 75, is perhaps in his final bid to realise his dream of becoming prime minister.
Gerakan Tanah Air pro tem chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad is among those fueling this allegation, claiming that Anwar had promised to let Zahid and Najib walk free in exchange for their support to become prime minister.
Latching onto this, the opposition leader’s contender for the Tambun seat, Ahmad Faizal Azumu, is asking the MACC to investigate if such an agreement exists because it is an issue of national interest and undermines public confidence in the justice system.
Previously, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, who is part of the Perikatan Nasional coalition, also made a similar allegation about a Zahid-Anwar pact.
On a related note, the purported undertaking BN candidates had inked mentioned agreeing to the exploration of an alliance with other parties after the general election.
In August, DAP’s secretary-general Anthony Loke did not rule out the possibility of working with Umno as well.
Speculation about Anwar and Zahid, who were once allies in Umno, working together is not new.
This surfaced in the recent past amid the jostling for power and numbers in the Dewan Rakyat which followed the collapse of the Harapan federal government.
When Anwar was in Umno, the pair were known to be close and Zahid had been detained under the now defunct Internal Security Act (ISA) after Mahathir had sacked Anwar as his number two in 1998.
At that point, Zahid was the Umno Youth chief and staunch supporter of Anwar.
Zahid’s daughter Nurulhidayah had recalled how her father was dumped blindfolded in the middle of the highway 10 days after his arrest.
However, both Anwar and Zahid denied Mahathir’s latest allegation, with the Harapan leader mocking the nonagenarian that the 97-year-old politician would develop a fever if he became the prime minister.
On the other hand, Zahid described Mahathir as the “father of diversions.” - Mkini
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