Tajuddin: Zahid's 'no DAP, no Anwar' mantra is a lie
Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s oft-repeated “No DAP, no Anwar” mantra was a lie, according to recently dropped Umno supreme council member Tajuddin Abdul Rahman.
At a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today, Tajuddin (above) said he was a “living witness” to Zahid signing a statutory declaration backing PKR president Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister.
“On the ‘jajaran baru’ (new alignment), ‘oh no Anwar, no DAP’. Come on...
Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s oft-repeated “No DAP, no Anwar” mantra was a lie, according to recently dropped Umno supreme council member Tajuddin Abdul Rahman.
At a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today, Tajuddin (above) said he was a “living witness” to Zahid signing a statutory declaration backing PKR president Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister.
“On the ‘jajaran baru’ (new alignment), ‘oh no Anwar, no DAP’. Come on! I am a living witness... Don’t deny it. There were statutory declarations (stating) support for Anwar as prime minister signed.
“The letters were addressed to Istana Negara. I was asked to sign it as well. I refused. In the end, (when Zahid) was about to pout, I signed. I’m a living witness.
“When the matter was exposed, (Zahid) was questioned. He replied ‘no DAP, no Anwar, no PKR’. It’s all lies. He lied to Umno members. The public doesn’t know this.
“I pity the ordinary Umno members. They just (accept it) because they respect the president. They can’t go against him,” said Tajuddin.
According to Tajuddin, Zahid also tried to form a government with Dr Mahathir Mohamad before agreeing to do so with Muhyiddin Yassin.
“I didn’t agree with joining Mahathir because it didn’t benefit Umno. At the time, we were getting stronger as the opposition. We were ready for the 15th general election.
“(Later) I was forced to take a stand. I was forced to voice out about ‘the new alignment’. Don’t say you didn’t do it. It was at a hotel in Kampung Baru where the signing (of documents) took place.
“I sat there waiting to sign as well,” he added.
Tajuddin was speaking at a tell-all press conference following Zahid’s decision to dismiss him from the party’s supreme council.
Zahid co-opted Tajuddin into the supreme council in 2018. No reasons were given for Tajuddin’s removal.
During the Umno annual delegates assembly in March, Zahid had adopted a “No DAP, No Anwar, No Bersatu” policy and said he never negotiated with any of the three entities he mentioned.
PKR claims vindication
In late 2020 and early 2021, Anwar had claimed that he had the numbers to form a new government that is “convincing, formidable and strong” - implying that there were defections.
However, the claim became a subject of ridicule when the support failed to materialise.
Zahid’s statement in September 2020 also lent credence that Anwar was seeking defections from BN.
By April 2021, there were allegations that Anwar called Zahid after the Umno delegates assembly to congratulate him.
In hindsight, Anwar told an interview in April that the support fell apart because he refused to compromise on certain principles, such as by declining to give free out-of-jail cards to politicians who are facing criminal trials.
Meanwhile in a statement today, PKR information chief Shamsul Iskandar said Tajuddin’s statement has vindicated Anwar’s claims at the time.
“Thus, people who ridiculed Anwar for supposedly lying about the formidable and convincing support for him on Sept 22, 2020, now have their answer.
“Tajuddin’s statement today also reveals the betrayal and personal agendas that have foiled efforts to retake Putrajaya.
“We should never give space and compromise with leaders accused and convicted in court for appalling corruption and abuse. They must have their day in court for justice to take its course,” he added.
