Umno presidential candidate Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is standing by his claim that he did not plead with Amanah member Khairuddin Abu Hassan to arrange a meeting with Dr Mahathir Mohamad in Putrajaya earlier this month.

Taking to Facebook yesterday, Zahid stressed once more that it was not him who requested to meet with the prime minister.

"I never crawled (to meet Mahathir).

"I told the truth to Umno members. There is no need for an outsider to intervene and make all sorts of speculation, and accusations on what I conveyed (which) was meant for the (best) interests and benefit of Umno," he posted.

Instead, he stated that it was the other way around, posting: “Khairuddin, who accused me of lying, was the one who contacted (me) and arranged for the meeting with Tun Mahathir."

Earlier this month, Zahid had posted an image of him meeting Mahathir at the latter's office in Putrajaya, becoming the third opposition leader to do so since Pakatan Harapan wrested Putrajaya in the 14th general election.

A day after the meeting, Mahathir, who himself had led Umno for more than two decades, claimed that the acting Umno president had sought pointers on how to run the party.

This claim, too, was denied by Zahid.

Another Umno presidential candidate Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah criticised Zahid for meeting Mahathir.

The party veteran said he would not have done so if he had been in Zahid's shoes as acting president.

Yesterday, Zahid had said the meeting was arranged at Mahathir's invitation.

Khairuddin (photo), who is Harapan Communication and Mobilisation member, rebutted Zahid's claim, alleging that he had arranged the meeting upon Zahid's insistence.

“After he pleaded with me to meet Mahathir, I arranged for him to meet the prime minister,” he had said.

In a statement today, Khairuddin reiterated that Zahid was the one who requested to meet with Mahathir.

He said the prime minister was reluctant to meet with the acting Umno president but agreed upon Zahid's insistence.

Zahid, he claimed, had even told him that he was willing to work with Pakatan Harapan and also not to trust PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim and deputy president Azmin Ali.

"But I stand by my principle that no one should try to sow dissent among the Harapan leaders.

"No matter the situation, we will continue to defend Anwar as the prime minister in waiting and the eighth prime minister.

"We will also defend Azmin as a strong and youthful leader within Harapan," Khairuddin said.