'Poorly orchestrated rumour' - Bersatu leader says of Mahathir coup claim

Bersatu supreme council member Rais Hussin Mohamed Ariff has refuted claims by PAS leaders of a coup within Pakatan Harapan to oust Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, he said there was no evidence to it.

“Speculative (and) has no evidence. At best, very poorly choreographed rumour.

“Pakatan Harapan’s solidarity is very strong... can be seen how we worked together very closely in all by-elections,” Rais Hussin said when contacted yesterday.

Harapan allies DAP, PKR and Amanah have denied the claim as well.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng branded the allegation a “fraudulent claim, slanderous and a lie” while PKR president Anwar Ibrahim accused PAS of lying to divert attention from the allegation claim it received RM90 million in 1MDB-linked funds from Umno, which is now subject to an investigation by the MACC.

Amanah secretary-general Anuar Tahir was quoted in Utusan Online as saying that the party was firmly behind Mahathir’s leadership.

Last Sunday, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan claimed that two Harapan component parties, which he declined to name, had attempted to mount a no-confidence vote against Mahathir.

This was why PAS had signed a written agreement to support the prime minister “if anything happened to him”, Takiyuddin explained.

Since then, other PAS leaders have continued to fuel this coup claim.

PAS Youth chief Muhammad Khalil Abdul Hadi (photo) challenged DAP to support Mahathir for a full term as PM despite an agreement within Harapan that Anwar will succeed Mahathir in the mid-term of the current Harapan rule of the federal government, while central committee member Nik Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz said he was open to PAS teaming up with Umno and Bersatu to clip DAP’s wings.

'Not worthy of our focus'

Rais Hussin, who also leads Bersatu’s policy and strategy bureau, said Mahathir and his allies have been busy rebuilding Malaysia ever since the 14th general election last May.

Thus, they should not get sidetracked by such allegations from PAS.

“So much of honest work still has to be done and is being done to deliver what the rakyat want.

“Work shifts to the rebuilding (of) the nation, consistent with what the rakyat want. This means strengthening democratic institutions to serve and protect the people’s interest, to really put people’s interest before any other matter and being a listening government that encourages participatory democracy to recalibrate and reinvent Malaysia.

“Other issues like politicking are just noise and distractions not worthy of focus by Mahathir or Harapan. We stay fast and focus on delivering what the people want (and to) bring glory again to Malaysia,” Rais Hussin said. - Mkini