KUALA LUMPUR – Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has urged party members to take to social media to “dispel slander” amid the controversy surrounding a leaked audio clip, allegedly of him and opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
In a Facebook post last night, Zahid said the party is faced with efforts to get Umno dissolved, frozen accounts and other obstacles.
“I urge you all, take to your social media accounts to dispel the negative perspectives we are facing. If we don’t, our enemies will use it to keep Umno down.
“In this digital age, anything can be made up – videos, photos and voice calls. There are already apps for that. What I’m asking is we counter the slander with facts and not more allegations.”
He added that the fall of Barisan Nasional (BN) in the 2018 general election was due to social media.
“Various propaganda, slander, negative perspectives and exaggerated stories were fabricated by our opponents to make the people hate Umno and BN. This has continued to this day.
“So much so that, at that time, a political party offered to hire cybertroopers for thousands of ringgit a month. They advertised this on JobStreet. Their mission is to tarnish Umno and spread slander.
“Despite Umno being only part of the current government without having absolute governing power, this is still happening to us. This is because our opponents don’t want us to rise up, they want to weaken us and continue to make the people hate us.”
Just two days ago, an audio clip was purportedly leaked, implicating Zahid. In the clip, “Zahid” was heard saying his winding-up speech at the Umno general assembly on March 28 was only “tactical”, apparently in reference to his remarks that there would be “no Anwar, no DAP and no Bersatu” as Umno heads into the next general election only with Barisan Nasional.
“Anwar” is then heard saying it is okay, adding that there is still work to be done with Umno’s Supreme Council – probably referring to convincing it to work with PKR.
In the conversation, “Anwar” said it would be good if one of Umno’s ministers resigned from the Perikatan Nasional cabinet, but noted that none has the courage to do so. “Zahid” replied by calling Umno ministers “cowards”.
The opposition leader also seemed to congratulate “Zahid”, saying he was proud of the latter over the speech given, to which “Zahid” said it was Anwar who taught him.
Soon after, Zahid released a denial – describing the audio clip as “disgusting political manoeuvring” that proves there are ongoing attempts to weaken Umno.
“I am extremely disappointed and shocked by the dissemination of the audio (clip) supposedly of me and Anwar.
“I believe more despicable games like this will happen to destroy the party.
“As a president, I will never violate or turn my back on the resolution that has been passed by Umno’s Supreme Council and general assembly.”
The former deputy prime minister said he has ordered his officer to immediately lodge a police report on the matter, to identify the mastermind behind the “scheme”.
Yesterday, Anwar reiterated that he did not, however, speak to Zahid after the Umno general assembly ended two Sundays ago.
Anwar said a police report will be lodged by his officers today.
“With regard to this specific audio, I can categorically say that it is not an authentic conversation between Zahid and I.
“That is my prerogative and my responsibility to address issues and come to a common understanding. But if people don’t want to talk to me, that is also their prerogative.
“As leader of a political coalition that should rightfully be the government of the day, it is my responsibility to remove this backdoor government and return the mandate the people made in 2018.
“It is imperative to do so quickly, judging from this government’s incompetent handling of the pandemic and the economy, with the resulting loss of global confidence, the collective impact on the rakyat is unacceptable,” he had told The Vibes. – The Vibes, April 9, 2021
