DATUK Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's daughter has hit out at Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin over his statement that he was asked not to challenge his slim defeat to Zahid in Bagan Datuk during the 2022 general election.
Shamsul Iskandar who is the senior political secretary to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim claimed that he was persuaded by a 2.30 am phone call from Anwar not to proceed as Barisan Nasional had agreed to join forces with Pakatan Harapan to form a government.
Shamsul Iskandar was one of three challengers to Zahid, who is also the BN chairman and a deputy prime minister in Bagan Datuk.
He said in an interview with the Apa Cerita podcast recently that he had intended to call for a recount as he was behind by 348 votes, with 800 spoilt votes.
Zahid’s victory eventually gave BN 30 MPs, which combined with the 82 from PH, gave the alliance the 112 seats required to form the government.
"If that's the case, BN and PKR can issue a letter asking the EC to investigate and sue you for your stupid statement," said Nurulhidayah Ahmad Zahid, who is also a Wanita Umno exco member.
She said Shamsul Iskandar’s 'hallucination' was a result of him being a know-it-all and perceiving himself to be a hero.
"Are you saying you sacrificed yourself for the alliance?," she asked in a Facebook posting.
Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, meanwhile, said it was not appropriate for Shamsul Iskandar to question Zahid's victory.
She said Shamsul should be magnanimous in defeat and should have raised his objections with the Election Commission.
Anwar was appointed Malaysia’s 10th prime minister on Nov 24, 2022, after forming a coalition of PH, BN, Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and other minor parties. - October 15, 2024
