KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was aware of Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah’s part in an abortive bid to oust the prime minister via a statutory declaration (SD), DAP’s Liew Chin Tong said today.
Disputing Umno information chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa’s claim that it was the opposition party and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who were behind the SD, Liew alleged that Tengku Razaleigh had begun positioning himself immediately after the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) controversy resulted in a Cabinet reshuffle in July.
The Kluang MP also called Annuar “foolish” for his attempt to absolve the Kelantan prince of any role in the SD, saying the Umno supreme council member could have easily obtained information to verify Tengku Razaleigh’s participation or otherwise in the move.
“Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was sacked on 28th July 2015 and in the first two weeks of August 2015 Razaleigh was busy engaging various stakeholders in the hope to replace Najib until it was foiled by new Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi on 16th August 2015.
“Annuar Musa should have just checked with Zahid Hamidi before he embarrassed himself,” Liew said in a statement today.
Liew’s allegation today dovetails with Ahmad Zahid’s revelation in August, when the deputy prime minister said a senior Umno leader whom he suggested was leading a plot to oust Datuk Seri Najib Razak would meet with the prime minister to explain the conspiracy.
It is unclear if the meeting took place as reporters staking out the prime minister’s residence then did not observe any arrivals or departures of individuals matching Ahmad Zahid’s description.
Liew today also urged Tengku Razaleigh, popularly called Ku Li, to be truthful and admit his role behind the SD, despite having now signed a “Kelantan Declaration” reaffirming his support for Najib, which rivals the Citizens’ Declaration launched by Dr Mahathir to remove the prime minister.
He said that while DAP had been prepared to support the SD, it was not behind the move to use such the contingency plan to remove the prime minister if an attempt to block the federal Budget in Parliament failed.
“We know what you did last August!” Liew directed at Ku Li.
Yesterday, Annuar accused DAP and Dr Mahathir of masterminding the SD and absolved the Gua Musang MP of any role in the bid.
He asserted that DAP's latest claims on the SD backing Tengku Razaleigh as PM was proof enough that they had masterminded the plan to remove Najib from office.
DAP MP for Seremban Anthony Loke yesterday insisted that the SD originated from Ku Li’s camp, despite the Umno lawmaker’s denial and professed ignorance of the document.
The SD first appeared on Liew’s Facebook page, who posted it as a response to claims that Tengku Razaleigh was not part of any attempt to unseat Najib.
The three-page unsigned SD expressed loss of confidence in Najib and also called for the resignations of the prime minister and his Cabinet members.
The document also endorsed instead Tengku Razaleigh as the next prime minister.
