“During our meeting, Zahid asked that we do not put too much trust in the political plans of Anwar Ibrahim and Mohamed Azmin Ali,” Khairuddin told FMT.
“But I am of the view that nobody should try to create provocations and rifts in the PH leadership. In whatever situation, we will defend Anwar as the prime minister-in-waiting to become Malaysia’s eighth prime minister.”
Yesterday, Khairuddin said Zahid had begged him to arrange a meeting on June 9 with Mahathir, a month after the May 9 polls which saw Barisan Nasional’s (BN) shock defeat.
Zahid on Wednesday had told Umno members in Selangor that he was invited to meet Mahathir, adding that the veteran leader had proposed to him that Umno MPs cross over to PPBM.
“I made it very clear that there is no way for us to join PPBM,” Zahid had said.
Khairuddin later issued a characteristically strongly worded statement accusing Zahid of lying, and shared a picture of him posing with Zahid on the same day as the meeting with Mahathir.
Yesterday, Zahid denied “crawling” to meet Mahathir, adding that it was Khairuddin “who contacted and arranged for the meeting”. The Umno presidential hopeful even posted a graphic with the words “Wabillahi Watallahi”, expressions used when a Muslim takes an oath to plead innocence.
Khairuddin today said Zahid should join him to repeat the oath in a formal setting.
“Tell this liar Zahid Hamidi that I’m prepared to take an oath by the holy Quran at any mosque,” he said.
Zahid begged me to arrange ‘Ramadan’ meeting with Dr M, says Khairuddin