Sheraton Move cost the nation, ex-MP tells ‘mastermind’ Zahid

A DAP leader described Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s act as ‘despicable’ following Zahid’s claim of being the mastermind behind Dr Mahathir Mohamad stepping down.

(FMT) – A former MP and a DAP leader have criticised Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi after he claimed to be the mastermind behind Dr Mahathir Mohamad stepping down as prime minister in February 2020.

Former Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah said the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government, in a political manoeuvre infamously dubbed the Sheraton Move, had cost the nation and denied Malaysians their democratic right.

“The people went to the streets and voted to change the government, with hope that it would bring about a better Malaysia, but this hope was dashed by greed for power.

The acts of wanting to gain power and not thinking about the nation shows that those leaders do not have the interest of the people at heart, the former Bersih chief told FMT.

Maria, who led two iconic Bersih rallies in the past, said she wholeheartedly disagreed with backroom moves to gain power. If there is any need for political change, do it through the ballot box or call for a referendum, she said.

Zahid, who is also a deputy prime minister, had earlier claimed he masterminded the move to force Mahathir to resign from the top post in order to prevent Umno from being deregistered as a political party.

He claimed that Anwar Ibrahim, who was slated to take over as prime minister from Mahathir at the time, had informed him that Muhyiddin Yassin, then home minister, was ready to make a move on cancelling Umno’s registration.

Mahathir’s resignation followed Bersatu’s withdrawal from PH and the departure of an Azmin Ali-led faction from PKR. Muhyiddin went on to form a new government comprising Bersatu, Barisan Nasional, Azmin’s faction, and others.

A DAP leader who did not want to be named said it was a despicable act to overthrow an elected government to protect a political party’s interests; it was an affront to the democratic process, he said.

He claimed that Zahid’s actions circumvented the democratic process and created instability despite the majority of people opting to boot out BN from the federal government in the May 2018 general election.

It is a shameful thing done by Zahid, but I’m sure he will say it was to protect his party. But, for me, I view it as an affront to the democratic process, he said.