In February 2020, a group of PKR MPs joined forces with Bersatu, Barisan Nasional and PAS in what was called the Sheraton Move to topple the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government after it had been in power for 22 months.

Yesterday, Hadi said he was the prime mover behind the developments after PAS felt that PH was moving to eradicate the special rights of Malays.

Khalid said Hadi was desperate for power and feared PH.

He said Hadi could not stand the fact that the coalition was successfully administering the country as it would have made it difficult for PAS to manage the expectations of its members and supporters.

“I’m not surprised that Hadi was one of the masterminds (behind the Sheraton Move) because it takes a sinister mind to do so,” he told reporters after a meeting at the PKR headquarters here.

Hadi said he initiated the move to stop PH’s plans to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination by discussing how to oust the coalition with Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin.

He said after Muhyiddin agreed to oust PH, he met Umno leaders to discuss the matter. After all those involved had come to a consensus, Hadi said Muhyiddin announced that Bersatu was leaving PH.

Khalid said Hadi’s nature was very different from PAS’ former spiritual leader, the late Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, who he said would not have allowed the Sheraton Move to occur.

“Nik Aziz would not have agreed to the Sheraton Move because he respected the people’s mandate.”