KUALA LUMPUR – An audio recording purportedly of Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan expressing his views on disbanding from the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government has been making the rounds on social media after it was uploaded by former PKR member Badrul Hisham Shaharin.
The leaked audio comes as Rahman on Friday denied allegations that he had told the party’s Supreme Council that Umno would be on the back foot if Covid-19 numbers dropped and the economy recovered.
However, the audio clip purportedly of Rahman during his party’s Supreme Council meeting on Wednesday, suggests that his words were indeed not taken out of context.
“I am concerned that if the Covid-19 (cases) rise under the circumstances, Umno will be entangled, Umno will make losses, but if the cases go down we will also lose out because we don’t get the credit,” Rahman purportedly said.
“The one who will get the credit is the prime minister and I am also concerned that if the situation improves and the economy shows recovery, what will happen to Umno? Will Umno be more pressured? Are we giving our political adversaries a lifeline to pressure us when the situation improves ?” he allegedly questioned.
Badrul Hisham Shaharin, better known as Chegubard and chief of the youth NGO Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia, uploaded the audio clips via his Twitter account this afternoon.
The leaked audio comes after party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced Umno’s immediate retraction of support for PN and Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin following the Supreme Council’s meeting on Wednesday evening.
The voice in the recording said the timing of Umno breaking ties with PN was “very important” as Covid-19 was addressed with the hard work of Umno cabinet ministers.
“I am worried we won’t get the credit. The timing is now because we want to show the people that we are with them, we want to show the rakyat that we changed the prime minister and the change of a prime minister is something normal in world politics.
Rakaman komen MKT Umno ... dalam mesyuarat MKT baru ini...
— che'GuBard SAMM (@chegubard) July 11, 2021
Apa kata anda ...
Rakaman 2/2 pic.twitter.com/3Vz9qTbYyI
Rahman also purportedly noted that with Barisan Nasional having 42 parliamentarians, he was confident that Bersatu would fear its strength.
“We can have the prime minister (post) tomorrow. Timing is very important and the timing is now.”
Therefore, Rahman – who is the former urban well-being, housing, and local government minister – allegedly said the party’s proposal for the immediate withdrawal from PN was “very strategic”.
“Firstly, we withdraw support for the prime minister and then the (Umno) president presents the matter to parliament. We respect that parliamentary democracy will decide.
“I, as a member of the Supreme Council, feel the burden is not on my shoulders, that is why we leave the due consideration to the parliamentarians.”
“We should not appoint people who are different from us (Umno). We should not support DAP or PH (Pakatan Harapan), that is why we have an opportunity to become prime minister to take charge.”
He allegedly said while it is true that the Covid-19 situation was currently “terrible”, the situation will improve in the next four or five months, and by that time, Umno’s “opportunity” will narrow further and turn into something negative.
“That is why, Datuk Seri president, our parliamentarians are confident in making the best decision in parliament soon.”
The Vibes was unable to independently verify the authenticity of the recording and has reached out to Rahman for comments on the matter. – The Vibes, June 11, 2021
