VETERAN journalist and blogger Datuk A. Kadir Jasin has branded UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as a “hypocrite who is afraid of going to jail” following the latter’s remark that Barisan Nasional (BN) is ready to implement any matured method, including joining forces with other parties to ensure the country’s political stability.
Deeming that as merely an excuse to save his skin, the former Bersatu supreme council member listed down three questions for BN chairman in his latest Facebook post:
- “Who conspired with Pakatan Harapan (PH) traitors to bring down the PH government in 2020 if not UMNO (and PAS)?”
- “Who brought down the prime minister (PM) of the treacherous Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin government in 2021 if not a member of the UMNO court cluster?”
- “And who forced the UMNO PM Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to dissolve Parliament early if not Zahid whose ancestors hailed from the Ponorogo district (in Indonesia) and his cronies?”
Therefore, Kadir contended that any political party, PM candidate or election candidate who are prepared to respond to Zahid’s temptation must be rejected outright.
“It is enough that we have been deceived by the UMNO/BN bigwigs who burden us with tens of billions of debts and losses from 1MDB (1Malaysia Development Bhd), SRC International Sdn Bhd, Retirement Fund Inc (KWAP), Pembinaan PFI Sdn Bhd, Tabung Haji, FELDA, FELCRA and many more,” he justified.
Kadir further reminded voters that GE15 is not about saving the UMNO/BN court cluster and “Sheraton Move” conspirators nor to fulfil anyone’s ego and big ambitions.
“This election is a continuity to clean our country from corruption, protect the common people from the global economic storm, redeem the country’s dignity and restore international confidence,” he added.
Apart from Kadir, former UMNO top brass Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim also took Zahid to task yesterday (Nov 6), contending that he should sack himself for betrayal when he went against the party’s top leadership decision in the selection of BN’s candidates for the 15th General Election (GE15).
“The UMNO president has betrayed the party. (Datuk Seri) Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (former BN Pasir Salak MP) had previously revealed that Zahid had instructed the party MPs to support (Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim (as Prime Minister) despite the party’s stand of being against Anwar and DAP,” the Perikatan Nasional (PN) Arau candidate and former Perlis menteri besar was quoted by the New Straits Times as saying.
“So, who was the traitor? Who dared to speak up? I spoke out because I dared to do so. He is the one who betrayed the party so he should sack himself.”
Shahidan was responding to Zahid’s statement on Saturday (Nov 5) that three UMNO leaders – including himself– who are contesting in the GE15 on either the opposition’s ticket or as an independent candidate should face immediate sacking by the party.
In a related development, Shahidan, 71, also questioned if caretaker PM Ismail Sabri is still the PM candidate for BN in the GE15.
“It seems that BN and UMNO leaders are keeping quiet about this. I wish to remind Ismail Sabri to be careful. If he is not careful, he could be played out by these people. If they could betray the party, they can trick the PM candidate,” cautioned the four-term Arau MP.
Recall that in the run-up to the GE15, Zahid had not only reiterated UMNO’s stance for Ismail Sabri to be UMNO’s “poster boy” but ‘pushed’ him to get the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s consent to dissolve the Parliament on Oct 10. – Nov 7, 2022
