The Umno minister asked this question after a series of tweets, in which he accused the former Prime Minister of “stealing Leiking” – the Penampang lawmaker – from right under Azmin’s nose.
“Let’s see if (PKR deputy president) Azmin (Ali) will still cozy up to Tun M despite Tun and his team stole his very own MP.” (sic)
The PKR number two alongside other Opposition leaders had in March signed the Citizens’ Declaration, an initiative led by Mahathir to oust Prime Minister Najib Razak.
Mahathir subsequently became part of the Opposition bloc by setting up Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) with other former Umno leaders, Muhyiddin Yassin and Mukhriz Mahathir.
“Pity. While Azmin is mesmerised by Tun’s antics, Tun’s associate in Sabah pulls a fast one on his party & stole his MP right under his nose!” Rahman tweeted.
Shafie, who quit Umno on July 4, served in Mahathir’s cabinet first as the deputy minister of housing and local government in 1999 and later as the deputy defence minister.
Mahathir stepped down as PM in 2003.
Shafie was also among those instrumental in bringing Umno into Sabah in the 90s.
Rahman, who is the Kota Belud lawmaker, also questioned if PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail would reprimand Azmin for being “easily blind-sided by Tun M and his team,” as he predicted that even more elected representatives and supporters from PKR and Amanah would cross over to PPBM in the future.
“We don’t mind actually. Tq Tun,” he tweeted.
Two days ago, Leiking resigned from PKR, where he was one of its vice-presidents.
According to Leiking, Wan Azizah knew beforehand and respected his decision.