KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 ― Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad confirmed today that Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi paid him a visit before he became prime minister for a second time.
Dr Mahathir, who was Pakatan Harapan chairman at the time, said Ahmad Zahid came with a few others, and tried to mend ties with him.
“At the time, there was a possibility that I might become the prime minister, that's why he wanted to 'make nice' with me.
“But I knew, Zahid's problem was that there was a possibility that he could be imprisoned due to the wrong doings and crimes he did,” Dr Mahathir told reporters after unveiling his party’s aspirations for the upcoming Johor state polls.
The Parti Pejuang Tanah Air chairman also asserted that after Umno returned to power, Ahmad Zahid had tried to shake off all other legal actions against him.
“I heard that he wanted to get rid of all actions taken against him through court, that's Zahid.
“And there were ongoing investigations, and he wanted these investigations stopped. That was true,” said Dr Mahathir.
Ahmad Zahid volunteered to take an oath on the Quran yesterday, to refute claims he had sought help from then prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to get corruption charges against him dropped.
Muhyiddin, who is also Pagoh MP, had made the assertions against Ahmad Zahid during a ceramah in Tangkak, Johor, on February 16 before a 2,000-strong crowd.
According to Muhyiddin, Ahmad Zahid had visited his home with piles of files a few days after he was sworn in as prime minister in 2020 and asked for help as he had not done the things of which he was accused.
