IPOH: The 120 statutory declarations (SDs) signed recently were meant to show support for Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and not to remove him, says a member of the party’s supreme leadership council.
Datuk Zainol Fadzi Paharudin also denied claims that there was a plot against Muhyiddin.
“Coincidentally, during a recent meeting, there was a statement saying that 120 division chiefs attended a lunch with the president,” he told a press conference here on Tuesday (Sept 9).
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“Perhaps that was what was mistaken about the SDs.
“As far as I know, the SDs were in support of the president, not to remove him.
“What was said about 120 SDs being signed to topple him is not true at all. There was no mastermind or any attempt to bring down the president,” he added.
Zainol Fadzi said selective support within a political party was not unusual.
“In politics, it is normal to have different camps where some back the deputy president, others support the vice presidents, and so on.
“For example, some support Peja (party vice president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu), and some support me, but I never led any movement to topple him despite many stories claiming that,” he said.
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Zainol Fadzi had been asked to comment on claims that he was involved in getting 120 party leaders to sign SDs recently.
Muhyiddin, who is Perikatan Nasional chairman, was heckled during his keynote address at Bersatu’s eighth annual general assembly on Saturday (Sept 6).
Before the assembly, there was talk of SDs signed by division leaders calling for Muhyiddin to step down as president.
Zainol Fadzi said the issue had been unnecessarily prolonged by certain quarters.
“Maybe the timing wasn’t right, as it happened during an official event, but people like to exaggerate.
“Members have the right and freedom to speak, but once the president has made his decision and given his views, the matter should be considered settled.
“Close the book and move forward. I’ve long since moved on,” he added.
