Zahid: Plot leader was to be unity PM
‘Former senior Umno man as head, deputy PMs from DAP and Keadilan – but plot was foiled’
(Free Malaysia Today) – A former senior Umno leader who planned to oust Najib Razak would have become prime minister of a unity government, with deputy prime ministers appointed from the DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat, according to Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Speaking at Sri Gadin Umno’s delegates meeting in Johor today, he said the plotters had intended to get 128 MPs on their side, The Malaysian Insider reported.
“They called it a unity government. Their plan was that the prime minister will be the figure who was once a part of Umno’s main leadership,” he said. “They planned to have 88 opposition MPs and a maximum of 40 MPs from Barisan Nasional.”
The plotters had planned to table a motion of no-confidence against Najib in the Dewan Rakyat on Oct 19, but were foiled when he revealed details of the plot last week, said Zahid.
They then moved to Plan B, which was to present a statutory declaration with enough signatures to the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, said Zahid, who first revealed this on August 15.
“But we foiled that plan as well, because they didn’t have enough MPs,” said Zahid, according to The Malaysian Insider.
Zahid, who is home minister and deputy prime ministers, said he had received verified intelligence about the plot and had announced last week that the “elderly” Umno man would be going to meet Najib at his private residence. Reporters and photographers who waited all evening were disappointed when no one turned up.
Zahid said the plot leader had called it off because of the heavy media presence. Zahid said he had known about the plan as he had been at the meeting at which it was decided the “elderly” plotter should meet the prime minister.
