Umno Supreme Council member Lokman Noor Adam has been ticked off for exposing discussions among party leaders after claiming last night that president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi wants to work with Dr Mahathir Mohamad to ensure its survival.

No such decision has been made by the party, which on principle, won’t work with any party in an alliance with DAP, said Umno information chief Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah.

“Lokman is manipulating the issue and has behaved unprofessionally with his actions that can destroy the party’s image.

“It is wrong for Lokman to have exposed what was said by the party president. Furthermore, the president was only talking about a preliminary idea and was seeking the views of various quarters about matters in the party’s interests.

“There is not even a decision, nor any decisive action taken by the party. Is this such a grave mistake that the party president should be considered a traitor?” Shamsul said in a statement today.

Lokman in a Facebook post last night called Zahid a “spineless leader” for pushing the idea of political collaboration with Dr Mahathir, who heads the ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition and is also chairman of Bersatu.

“I am very ashamed today because I have a president who is weak and has no principles.

“Zahid suddenly appeared in the Perhimpunan Muafakat Nasional Umno meeting committee Monday (Feb 3) that was chaired by (Umno supreme council member) Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman and gave four reasons why he wanted Umno to work with Dr Mahathir,” Lokman said in his post.

This follows a viral audio clip allegedly of Zahid asking to form a new cooperation with Dr Mahathir.

Lokman reminded Zahid of the resolution passed in the previous Umno general assembly that Muafakat Nasional – the alliance between Umno and PAS – would not accept the formation of a government through a “back door”.

“Although the back and front doors are wide open, we will still use the front door.

“We will form a government based on the principles of democracy in line with the Federal Constitution.

“Ahmad Zahid’s speech was debated and accepted by the Umno general assembly unanimously.

“Any efforts to establish a ‘back door government’, with any coalition before the 15th General Election must get the approval from the grassroots through a special general assembly.

“Zahid’s act is clearly against party discipline and sidelined the voices of the grassroots members,” added Lokman.

According to Lokman, Zahid said Umno should cooperate with Dr Mahathir, who is also the prime minister, as PAS had decided to do so.

Lokman said Umno should not work with Dr Mahathir whom he called “a dictator” and who had “victimised” former Umno president Najib Razak.

Lokman also made claims that several members of the Umno Supreme Council were on “the payroll” of those who supported Dr Mahathir.

To this, Shamsul said Lokman has gone overboard.

“Umno makes decisions according to the proper channels. Everything must be discussed first and must abide by what has been decided by the Supreme Council.

“Umno also has its principles. It will never cooperate with any party, especially parties in Pakatan Harapan that share power with DAP. Umno will reject any cooperation that involves DAP,” Shamsul added.

Lokman also accused Zahid of meeting Dr Mahathir to “save himself”, referring to the corruption charges he is facing.

The speculation that PAS is working with Dr Mahathir began after the prime minister met the Islamist party president Abdul Hadi Awang earlier last month, which he described as a normal meeting and that it was “his job to meet everybody”.