Zahid says audio clip is fake, denies speaking to Anwar after Umno AGM

 

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has denied allegations that he spoke to PKR president Anwar Ibrahim after the Umno general assembly and that the conversation was recorded.

In a statement, Zahid (above) said he was "shocked" and "disappointed" over the allegation and claimed that he was a victim of a political scheme to weaken or destroy Umno.

In view of this, the Umno president said his officer would lodge a police report to investigate the affair and identify the person behind the "scheme of things".

Zahid's use of the term "scheme of things" was in reference to an alleged audio recording allegedly portraying Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin detailing plans to engineer defections from Umno.

Zahid gave his assurance that he will abide by the party's decision not to work with Anwar or DAP.

"As the party president, I have never violated any decisions made by the supreme council or the annual general assembly," he said.

Since last night, the four-minute audio clip has been making rounds where a person who sounded like Anwar praised the person who sounded like Zahid over the latter's handling of the Umno general assembly.

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim

During the Umno general assembly, the party delegates resolved to cut ties with Bersatu but gave Zahid the mandate to decide when.

The Umno general assembly had also resolved that the party must not cooperate with Anwar nor DAP.

So far, PKR has not commented on the alleged audio recording.

The audio recording, if true, would further indicate that there are clandestine cooperation between some Umno leaders and that opposition.

On March 30, Anwar had dismissed the Umno general assembly's decision to steer clear of himself and DAP on the grounds that the assembly also resolved to leave Perikatan Nasional.

"So there is the apparent contradiction," said Anwar.

Prior to the assembly, PKR vice-president Chang Lih Kang said discussions between his party and Umno were only at a preliminary stage.

The only concrete display of collaboration between PKR and Umno so far occurred in December last year. PKR and other Pakatan Harapan lawmakers had joined their Umno counterparts to oust Bersatu deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu as the Perak menteri besar. - Mkini