A former aide of ex-Kedah menteri besar Mukhriz Mahathir has challenged him to swear on the Quran that he did not know of efforts to sabotage the initial public offering (IPO) of 1MDB.

“I ask that Mukhriz swear on the Quran, without conditions, that he and his father (Dr Mahathir Mohamad) did not know at all about efforts by certain quarters to sabotage 1MDB’s IPOs and that he does not want to become prime minister on a fast-track way,” said Muhkriz’s former special political officer Haris Che Mat in a statement today.

The Pokok Sena Umno vice-chief earlier today held a press conference in Pokok Sena, Kedah, on the matter.

Expressing regret over claims by Mukhriz’s supporters that he was a traitor to the party, Haris pointed out how he was still in Umno and it was Mukhriz who is in Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), “in cahoots with DAP”.

“Now people know who is the traitor to Umno and the Malays. I will always defend Umno.

“I’m not a hypocrite as it wasn’t me who sabotaged the IPO of 1MDB. It wasn’t me who lodged a police report in December 2014 and it wasn’t me who claimed that RM42 billion of 1MDB funds has disappeared and blamed it on the prime minister.

“This is a disgusting and abhorrent political move,” added Haris.

Muhkriz, he said, had been vocal in blaming the prime minister (Najib Abdul Razak) when 1MDB’s IPO failed.

“This is not fair as it wasn’t the prime minister who sabotaged 1MDB’s IPO. Mukhriz used the failure of 1MDB to attack the prime minister.

“(But) 1MDB failed due to sabotage of 1MDB’s IPO,” he added.

Meanwhile, on Mukhriz’s possible plans of becoming prime minister, Haris said everyone knew that a politician would not run for the Umno vice-president’s post if he or she has no plans to become prime minister.

“Many also know that Mahathir does not want to mention the name of the candidate whom he wants to replace Najib with.

“Now everyone has realised that the name of the candidate that Mahathir wants as prime minister is Mukhriz,” said Haris.

Earlier this year, Mukhriz stepped down as Kedah menteri besar after a long-fought battle with Kedah Umno leaders who wanted him to resign.

In June this year, he was sacked from Umno together with former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin. Both had been vocal in their views on the handling of 1MDB by Najib.

The duo has since formed Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), a new party whose membership is open to Malays and the bumiputera.