Shahidan denies meeting Zahid to talk about forming new govt

 

Arau MP Shahidan Kassim said he viewed the allegation that he had met up with BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi seriously.

KUALA LUMPUR: 

A former Barisan Nasional (BN) MP has denied claims he had met with the coalition’s chairman, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, to discuss forming a new government.

Shahidan Kassim, who is now with PAS, said there was no need to hide under a cloak of secrecy when it came to such matters, as he, along with other Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders, had always openly invited BN to join forces and form a new government in the name of Malay-Muslim unity.

“It’s no secret as such offers were made publicly, including in the Dewan Rakyat.

“But I don’t know how this rumour that I had met with Zahid to persuade Umno to leave (the unity government) came about,” he said at a press conference outside the Dewan Rakyat.

“If I were to call for a change in government, I would just say it.”

The Arau MP, however, said he viewed the allegation that he had met up with Zahid seriously.

Meanwhile, Pengkalan Chepa MP Ahmad Marzuk Shaary, also of PAS, said it was wrong to accuse PN of making such offers as the opposition had nothing to offer BN.

“As it is, we do not have any (development) funds.”

On Sunday, Zahid, who is also the deputy prime minister, revealed that there had been efforts to persuade BN to leave the unity government to form a new administration.

Without disclosing the parties involved, Zahid claimed that the coalition was also offered the prime minister’s post if it agreed to the proposal.

Zahid said he rejected the offer as he was unwilling to betray his allies in the unity government.

Several PN leaders, including Supreme Council member Ronald Kiandee, have since rubbished the claim. - FMT