Kapar MP Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid (above) is training his guns again on allies in Pakatan Harapan alleging a conspiracy behind former Umno warlord Isa Samad's move to contest in the Port Dickson by-election.

FMT cited the PKR lawmaker as saying that this was an act of sabotage against PKR president-elect Anwar Ibrahim by "friends" of the party and that those responsible were "the same players" from his 1998 sacking from Umno.

"Even though Umno has boycotted the PD by-election, but today the question arises as to why Isa wants to contest? Why? And in what capacity?

"We can't allow some among our friends to sabotage or conspire to deny this consensus (that Anwar should succeed Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad)," he was quoted as saying.

Isa announced yesterday that he had quit Umno and will contest in Port Dickson as an independent. Anwar will also be contesting in a bid to return to Parliament.

Asked whether "the same players" from 1998 referred to Mahathir, Abdullah replied: "Those involved directly and indirectly, as well as those who I admit their speech does not reflect reality."

"What I can see is that their determination to topple Anwar is very obvious," he added.

Mahathir had sacked Anwar as deputy prime minister in 1998 which led to a series of events including the latter's imprisonment for sodomy.

Mahathir and Anwar now say they have buried the hatchet with Anwar making a plea for people to stop pitting the two against each other.

Mahathir has also reiterated his pledge that Anwar will succeed him.

Abdullah was previously ordered to apologise to Mahathir after alleging that the prime minister was among those plotting to stop Anwar from becoming prime minister.

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