Zahid warns Barisan MPs against Budget plot

Umno vice-president to 'personally monitor' all Barisan members involved in anti-Najib vote

KUALA TERENGGANU: Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi repeated his warning to Barisan Nasional members of parliament against being involved in a conspiracy to bring down the government of Najib Razak by not supporting the 2016 Budget.

Zahid said he knows which MPs are involved in the conspiracy because the plot has been in motion for three to four months now.

“I know that Barisan MPs have been influenced by the opposition and some have also held the government at ransom,” he said, adding that he would “personally monitor each and every MPs involved”.

Ahmad Zahid, speaking at the closing of the Terengganu Umno convention on Friday night, said the conspirators were also using the issues of 1Malaysian Development Berhad, the RM2.6 billion “donation” into Najib’s personal bank accounts, and the government’s imposition of Goods and Services Tax.

Zahid said the government of the day was the government that was elected via the democratic process and Umno members must defend the cause to ensure the welfare of the people and the country.

He said Umno had never been free of crisis and conflict since its formation 69 years ago, including the era of Dr Mahathir Mohamad as prime minister. Changes in the Umno leadership were part of the normal process and not something new in a political party that had been the pillar of Barisan Nasional.

“It is not a culture in Umno to stab our own leaders from the back. Every conflict or crisis must be faced and resolved together,” he said.

He also urged Terengganu Umno members to stand firmly behind state Umno chief Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman to ensure a bigger BN victory at the 14th general election due by mid-2018.

He said the political situation in Terengganu does not give the opposition an edge: BN had a bright chance of regaining most of the seats, unlike in the 2013 general election whereby BN managed to win only 17 of the 32 state assembly seats.

Present at the Terengganu Umno convention were Umno vice president Hishamuddin Hussein, Wanita Umno leader Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Puteri Umno head Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, Umno information chief Ahmad Maslan, executive secretary Ab Rauf Yusoh, Umno Supreme Council member Ahmad Shabery Cheek and Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin.

– BERNAMA