In about-turn, Zahid urges support for PN

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today announced a “political ceasefire” just days after the revelation that he had been collaborating with Anwar Ibrahim to replace the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition to which his party belongs.

Zahid said his party would now help the PN government to focus on rebuilding the economy in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The cooperation of all parties in PN should be strengthened in order to ensure political stability at a time when the country is faced with the threat of Covid-19 and economic uncertainties,” he said in a statement.

He also urged Cabinet members from Umno to give their full attention to helping the people survive the economic hardships brought about by the pandemic.

On Friday, MalaysiaNow revealed that Zahid and his predecessor, former prime minister Najib Razak, had unilaterally written to the palace expressing support for Anwar’s plan to take over Putrajaya.

In the letter, Zahid claimed “a number of Umno MPs” would back the plan to topple Muhyiddin, without giving details of the MPs in question.

The revelation sent shock waves through the Umno leadership, with several leaders hitting out at Zahid for supporting an outsider.

Umno’s elderly adviser Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah later warned that top leaders who prioritise the interest of other parties should be booted out.