"Be More Like DAP" — Zahid Tells Muhyiddin
Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Perikatan Nasional (PN) to emulate DAP, which, he said, cares more about the nation's interests rather than the party and individual interests.
By Sadho Ram — 05 Dec 2022, 04:34 PM — Updated almost 2 years ago
Power-hungry politicians, who are willing to go against the wisdom of the Malay Rulers, need to emulate DAP, according to UMNO president
Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also the Barisan Nasional (BN) chairperson, has asked Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairperson Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and his allies in the opposition to respect the Cabinet appointments under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as consented by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Zahid, who was appointed as one of the two Deputy Prime Ministers, used Muhyiddin's real name, Mahiaddin, to blast the PN chairperson for accusing Anwar of "pawning" the principles of good governance by appointing a "kleptocrat" to the Cabinet. Muhyiddin's use of kleptocrat was in reference to Zahid.
"...a person who has been told to enter his defence on 47 charges of criminal breach of trust (CBT), corruption, and money laundering, is appointed Deputy Prime Minister [...] is akin to selling the country's dignity so that [Anwar] can remain as Prime Minister," Muhyiddin was reported as saying by Malaysiakini.
Responding to Muhyiddin's attack, Zahid told him to stop complaining and to accept the fact that he lost the bid to become prime minister and focus on becoming an effective opposition leader instead.
"Mahiaddin and his allies should be ashamed of being seen as too power-hungry until they're willing to dispute the Malay Rulers. They need to emulate DAP, which cares more about the interests of the country than the interests of the individuals," the Deputy Prime Minister said in his Facebook post.
DAP is the largest party in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition with 40 members of parliament (MPs). However, with just four ministerial posts in the Cabinet, its share is the lowest among those supporting Anwar.
The current unity government, which is a grand coalition, led by Anwar is supported by PH, BN, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), Warisan, Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM), Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KBM), and independents MPs.
Zahid's statement of support for DAP came after the party's secretary-general, Anthony Loke, said that DAP was willing to sacrifice anything as long as Anwar became the Prime Minister.
"It is not about positions but to serve for the good of the country," Loke said.
Meanwhile, Zahid called Muhyiddin "short-sighted" for criticising Anwar for holding the Finance portfolio, reminding everyone how successful Anwar was in helming the portfolio back in the 1990s
"It was during Anwar's time as finance minister back then did Malaysia recorded budget surpluses, where our nation's income exceeded expenditures. Anwar was also recognised as the world’s best finance minister by Euro Money Magazine and Asia's Best Finance Minister by Asia Money Magazine," Zahid said.
"Thus, it is certain that foreign investors will be more confident to invest when Anwar holds the post," said Zahid, claiming Malaysia’s economy went south during Muhyiddin's tenure as the prime minister.
