KUALA LUMPUR – After yet another photo of him with Umno’s foes made the rounds online, party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today addressed what he deems as personal attacks against him by critics.
Sharing a screenshot of a photo uploaded by the Kami Sayang Tun Mahathir Facebook page, Zahid said the image only proves that Barisan Nasional was a responsible government that set aside politics when administering the country.
The picture is of Zahid having a meal with DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and several others. The accompanying caption read “SOP-breaching new alignment cluster? Why aren’t Ameno (Umno) lap dogs reporting this to police?”, implying that the photo was taken recently.
In an Instagram post, Zahid said the picture was taken in 2017 in Penang, following major floods in the northern state.
He said Lim, who was the then chief minister, had contacted him about 3am seeking federal assistance as the state was incapable of handling the disaster on its own.
The then BN government immediately provided aid to Penang, he said, adding that as the then deputy prime minister, he, too, went to the ground.
That is how you govern Malaysia; take care of the rakyat and country with all your heart. Not by suspending Parliament and democracy, abusing emergency ordinances for personal gain, trivialising demands from the rakyat for help, being in denial about the worsening economy, and undermining the Agong and Conference of Rulers’ decrees.”
Despite the people continuing to suffer under the current Perikatan Nasional administration as the nation heads for failure, he said, Putrajaya appears unperturbed.
“When we argue with facts, they remain firm with their lies. They (are the ones who) continue to play politics, but Umno is the one accused of doing it.”
This is the second time within a week that photos of Zahid with his party’s traditional rivals have been shared on social media.
Makan sedulang memang sedap..lebih lebih lagi kalau dpt dining di restoran musim PKP. pic.twitter.com/lRVgHfbYGz
— Annuar Musa (@AnnuarMusa) July 12, 2021
Umno’s Tan Sri Annuar Musa, who has been at loggerheads with the president since early this year, on Monday shared several snaps of Zahid with PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and chief whip Datuk Johari Abdul, captioned: “Eating from the same plate is certainly nice, especially when you get to dine in at a restaurant during the movement control order.”
Zahid did not directly respond to the post.
He has courted criticism from within Umno over the party’s decision last week to withdraw support for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
Pundits have said the party is split into two, with one faction backing Zahid, and the other led by Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and other leaders with positions in the PN government. – The Vibes, July 16, 2021
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