KUALA LUMPUR – DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng claims to be unaware of any conspiracy within Umno to pledge support for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to become prime minister back in 2020 via statutory declarations (SDs).
His comments follow Umno’s Pasir Salak MP Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman’s disclosure yesterday of the alleged existence of the document in a tell-all press conference.
Speaking to press members at the court complex here today, Lim said he has never laid eyes on the supposed SDs, when asked if he was aware of the claim made by Tajuddin.
“So, how would I know? If you want, you should ask Umno about this. I’m not the one nominated to be a prime minister, and my name was never mentioned.
“This is Umno’s internal problem, so leave it to them,” he said.
When pressed for further comments on Tajuddin’s disclosure’s significance for Pakatan Harapan, Lim said it bears little relevance to the problems faced by the general public today, namely inflation and the rising cost of living.
“Those interested in fighting for their own interests, let the people see for themselves.
“For us, we are more focused on how to solve the people’s problems, fight corruption, how those who are corrupt (do not) get punished and those fighting corruption instead get punished.”
“This issue (of SDs) is their (Umno) own internal dispute. I don’t want to jaga tepi kain orang (be busybody), so I think we will leave at that. I don’t want to comment.”
In a shocking turn of events yesterday, the embattled Tajuddin claimed to be a “living witness” to the SDs signed by Umno MPs supporting opposition leader Anwar as prime minister. He said the mantra of “No DAP, No Anwar” that Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi constantly harped on is as such an open lie to party members.
Among those who signed the SDs, according to Tajuddin, were Zahid and Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, the latter of whom later confirmed to The Vibes of the existence of the document.
The SDs are believed to be related to a previous claim by Anwar in September 2020 that he has a strong, formidable and convincing majority to replace then prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to form a new government.
At the time, Muhyiddin only commanded the support of 111 MPs, just two more than PH.
While Anwar did not provide an exact count of MPs on his side at the time, The Vibes was informed by sources that there were 15 Umno MPs backing the PKR president.
Meanwhile, when met today, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, like Lim, appeared reluctant to offer his comment, merely questioning if the claim made by Tajuddin holds water.
“I don’t know what he said. This is among Umno members. We don’t know whether the claims made by Tajuddin were true or not. This is something that was done among them, not with us,” he said. – The Vibes, June 28, 2022
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