Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had stated that attempts by a former leader to drive a wedge between him and Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi would not work as he had full confidence in his deputy.
They had been through both the good and bad times since 1986, said Najib, referring to the time he was Culture, Youth and Sports Minister before Ahmad Zahid joined him as his political secretary.
Besides that, Najib, who is also UMNO president, said he had once helped Ahmad Zahid defend his UMNO Youth head post for the Bagan Datoh UMNO division (now Bagan Datuk).
"That is why I want to say to you that the UMNO leadership is strong, trust me… I have full confidence in my deputy (Ahmad Zahid). No need to dwell on this (whether he has confidence in Ahmad Zahid).
"There are more important things to do,” he said when opening the Shah Alam UMNO division’s delegates conference here Sunday.
Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is now chairman of opposition party Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM), earlier last week had stated that about two years ago Ahmad Zahid had come to see him about toppling Najib.
However, Ahmad Zahid, who is also UMNO vice president but carrying out the duties of deputy president, has denied this and instead said Dr Mahathir was the one behind the plot and that he had evidence to the effect.
Najib, who is also Barisan Nasional chairman, spoke about the time Dr Mahathir used his powers as prime minister to detain Ahmad Zahid under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
"Imagine, Ahmad Zahid who was the UMNO Youth head at the time was detained under the ISA. He (Dr Mahathir) sent two SB (Special Branch) officers to see Ahmad Zahid to say that if he wanted an early release from ISA detention, Ahmad Zahid had to sign a letter to resign as UMNO Youth head...in the end he signed it and gave up the post,” said the prime minister.
Najib said the next day SB officers again approached Ahmad Zahid and asked him to sign another letter that he was resigning from the post on his own free will.
"Ahmad Zahid was in a situation like where a gun is pointed at one’s head… that is why Ahmad Zahid never forgot (what was done to him).… so it does not make sense that he would have gone to see Tun M (Dr Mahathir) to ask for support to oust me. This is nothing but pure lies,” stressed the prime minister.
Also present were Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister and Selangor UMNO chief Tan Sri Noh Omar and Shah Alam UMNO chief Datuk Azhari Shaari.
On his presence at the conference yesterday, Najib said he chose Shah Alam from 22 parliamentary seats in Selangor to send a political message that should UMNO and BN want to change the political landscape by returning to power in the state, they should start their wave from the Shah Alam parliamentary constituency.
“Do not fail at the third attempt. This time we will rise again with renewed vitality, we will seize Shah Alam and Selangor... make this an UMNO and BN state,” he said.
For the purpose, Najib said UMNO and BN needed to have and integrated strategy and plan to gain the confidence of Selangor residents that it was important to have the state and federal governments from the same party.
He said the people should be made to see that UMNO and BN government had achieved enormous successes recognised globally and if the same party were to rule Selangor, the state would enjoy rapid development in future.
"We have to tell the people that the sweet promises of the opposition are cheap but the political stability, peace and harmony in the country brought by UMNO and BN is invaluable and should not be trivialised,” said Najib.
According to him, Selangor residents needed to know about the failures of the state government under the leadership of Parti Keadilan Rakyat in implementing pledges made in the previous general election such as the failure to provide free education in the state.
“As such, we will be drafting the 14th general election manifesto for Selangor which is believable and can be implemented. We have felt the pain of being the opposition and we will offer a better government for the people in Selangor,” he said.
At the event, Najib announced an allocation of RM3 million to the Shah Alam UMNO division to carry out community programmes in the parliamentary constituency including at suraus, mosques as well as for activities of various houses of worship of other religions.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Sun Aug 06 2017
Najib in his speech also speaks about the time Dr Mahathir used his powers as prime minister to detain Ahmad Zahid under the Internal Security Act (ISA). - Filepic
10 Berita Pilihan - (16 Julai 2024
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp
Jawatankuasa Kira-kira Wang Negara (PAC) memberi tempoh tiga bulan kepada Perbadanan Pembangunan Sumber Manusia (HRD Corp) untuk mengemukakan laporan tindakan susulan terhadap syor jawatankuasa itu.
Kylian Mbappe tandatangan kontrak dengan Real Madrid
Bintang bola sepak Perancis Kylian Mbappe menandatangani kontrak selama lima tahun dengan kelab Sepanyol Real Madrid pada Selasa.
Pelepasan ketujuh air sisa nuklear Fukushima ke laut selesai
Jepun telah menyelesaikan pusingan ketujuh pelepasan air sisa radioaktif yang dirawat dari loji kuasa nuklear Fukushima Daiichi ke Lautan Pasifik pada Selasa.
Empat termasuk kapten maut dalam pertempuran
Empat anggota tentera India termasuk kapten meninggal dunia akibat kecederaan selepas pertempuuran pada malam isnin di Hutan Desa.
Pakistan sahkan 4 warganya terbunuh di Oman
Pakistan berkata pada Selasa empat warganya terbunuh dalam insiden tembakan pada malam Isnin berhampiran ibu negara Oman, Muscat.
Lima terbunuh, puluhan cedera dalam protes antikuota di Bangladesh
Sekurang-kurangnya empat orang terbunuh dan puluhan lagi cedera dalam pertempuran antara pelajar yang memprotes sistem kuota dalam pekerjaan sektor awam dan polis di pelbagai bahagian Bangladesh pada Selasa.
Kerajaan cadang perkenal pembiayaan swasta
Kerajaan menyasarkan untuk memperkenalkan pembiayaan swasta alternatif bagi memastikan kemampanan kewangan program sektor air, sekali gus mengurangkan kebergantungan pada perbelanjaan kerajaan dan mengukuhkan daya tahan.
Saya tak fitnah Guan Eng, cuma jelaskan siasatan SPRM - Muhyiddin
Presiden Bersatu Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin memberitahu Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur hari ini bahawa beliau tidak memfitnah Lim Guan Eng berhubung isu pengecualian cukai terhadap Yayasan Albukhary
KPT alu-alukan dapatan, cadangan PAC - Zambry
Ini termasuklah cadangan pelaksanaan Garis Panduan Pelaburan dan Pembiayaan oleh Universiti Awam 2024 kepada anak-anak syarikat di bawah seliaan Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi (KPT).
MARA diminta terus teroka potensi industri halal global - Ahmad Zahid
MARA diminta untuk terus meneroka potensi antarabangsa dalam industri halal yang mempunyai prospek besar menerusi program Gate to Global (GTG).
Ahmad Zahid ucap tahniah Selangor Red Giants ke final MSC MLBB
Ahmad Zahid berkata perjalanan luar biasa dan pencapaian cemerlang pasukan e-sukan itu di pentas antarabangsa membanggakan seluruh rakyat Malaysia.
UMNO Terengganu perlu berubah fokus tangkis persepsi, tohmahan - Ahmad Zahid
UMNO Terengganu perlu berubah dengan memberi tumpuan untuk menyusun strategi bagi menangkis pelbagai persepsi dan tohmahan sekiranya berhasrat menyemarakkan semula parti di negeri itu.
Tak dapat ikut piawaian keselamatan antara faktor pusat tahfiz tidak berdaftar - Zahid
Tidak dapat mengikuti syarat dan piawaian keselamatan yang ditetapkan Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia merupakan antara faktor masih banyak pusat tahfiz di negara ini yang tidak berdaftar.
PRK Nenggiri: Calon BN diumumkan lebih awal - Ahmad Zahid
Calon Barisan Nasional (BN) bagi Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Nenggiri akan diumumkan lebih awal.
Ahmad Zahid yakin tiada ahli Parlimen BN alih sokongan
Tiada keperluan ahli Parlimen BN untuk memberi sokongan terhadap pembangkang meskipun mereka mempunyai alasan politik tersendiri.
Ahmad Zahid hadir Program Felda Berselawat
Timbalan Perdana Menteri menyertai lebih 1,500 pengunjung dalam Program Felda Berselawat di MAEPS, malam tadi.
Zahid nyatakan komitmen selesaikan masalah hutang Felcra, teliti syor PAC
Langkah proaktif akan diambil bagi menangani masalah yang dialami Felcra Berhad dan anak syarikatnya susulan beban hutang tinggi yang ditanggung.
Program MADANI Rakyat Zon Timur catat jumlah pengunjung tertinggi
Program MADANI Rakyat (PMR) 2024 Zon Timur di Dataran Sayangi Kuantan melabuhkan tirai hari ini dengan mencatatkan jumlah pengunjung tertinggi dalam tiga siri penganjurannya iaitu jumlah pengunjung me
Kekalahan di Sungai Bakap bukan penamat hadapi PRK seterusnya - Ahmad Zahid
Kekalahan calon Pakatan Harapan (PH) pada Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Sungai Bakap di Pulau Pinang semalam bukanlah penamat kepada gabungan parti dalam Kerajaan Perpaduan khus