'Conspiracy to topple government not a drama' - Ahmad Zahid

Deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi explained that the exposure on the existence of a conspiracy to topple the government via the "back door" earlier was not a drama that he had created.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also an UMNO vice-president, on the other hand said his disclosure on the conspiracy was something real through sources and intelligence carried out by the agencies responsible.

"I obtained the information accurately and did not add or minus the facts. The conspiracy to topple the government would take place if not stopped.

"This is the truth. Not an attempt. We have to stop from the start and we are not willing to be toppled by the opposition in this manner," he said when opening the Delegates Meeting of the Sekijang UMNO division at the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Datuk Bentara Dalam, here today.

Also present were Sekijang UMNO division head Datuk Dr Baharum Mohamed, Sekijang UMNO division deputy head Alus Kassim and Kemelah State Assemblyman Datuk Ayub Rahmat.

He said every intelligence report would be repeatedly checked before its facts were verified.

"Then only the report (intelligence on the conspiracy) would be handed to me.

"The intelligence found that the opposition wants to set up a unity government with 88 opposition members of parliament and to attract 40 Barisan Nasional (BN) members of parliament," he said.

Ahmad Zahid said some people accused him of creating a drama when he exposed the mastermind behind the leader who tried to obtain a sworn declaration from the member of parliament.

Eventually that person did not turn up to meet Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

"I knew about this in a meeting. He (the leader concerned) did not come because he did not want his photo published (exposing his identity)," he said.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the group wanted to hand over a sworn declaration to the Speaker before the Dewan Rakyat sitting in October so that there would be a resolution of no confidence against the Prime Minister.

"According to intelligence, they wanted to use Plan B, which is to hand over the sworn declaration to the Agong, for further action," he said.

However, he was confident the 134 BN members of parliament would not be influenced by the group's attempts to get support illicitly.

Ahmad Zahid also said he never had any doubt when making the exposure and was prepared to defend the government which had been legitimately elected in the last general election.

"I am prepared to defend the current government and do not want a coup which does not give any benefit like what had happened in Perak, although PAS ruled, the real power then was the DAP," he said.

Meanwhile, he wanted the people to understand the real issue regarding the RM2.6 billion funds which were from a donor in the Middle East.

"The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has investigated the matter with the donor and confirmed it is a political fund and not using funds from a trust or such," he said.

Earlier, when opening the Sri Gading UMNO division delegates conference in Batu Pahat, Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia's commitment in fighting terrorism, and being a moderate Muslim country with a plural society were the factors why the donor from the Middle East contributed the political funds of RM22.26 billion to it.

He also wanted UMNO leaders to meet the people to explain the real situation to the grassroots so that they would not be influenced by the lies spread by the opposition through the social media.