Pas president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang has made a seemingly outlandish claim of a ploy in Umno to ensure Barisan Nasional (BN) would win less seats in the 15th General Election.
This, he alleged, was to make way for Pakatan Harapan (PH) to win more seats.
Hadi claimed that the strategy was meant to facilitate the process of merger between BN and PH after GE15 to form the new federal government.
He also claimed that the ultimate objective of the discreet plan is to save those who are facing criminal prosecution.
“There is a movement to minimise Umno’s victory to make way for PH to secure a bigger victory. This is to facilitate the plan (for BN) to merge with PH after the GE15.
“This is because many of the leaders in Umno disagreed with the plan to cooperate with PH.
“That’s why there was a pact to promote leaders (in Umno) who agreed to merge with PH with the intention to free themselves (from prosecution), not to save the people,” Hadi said after attending a gathering to introduce Kedah Perikatan Nasional candidates for GE15 at the state Pas Complex in Kota Sarang Semut.
Present was Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, who is also the state PN chairman.
Hadi was commenting on the move to axe Umno leaders who were not aligned to the party’s top leadership from being fielded as candidates for GE15.
Asked on whether some of the Umno leaders who were sidelined by the party had approached Pas to contest under the party, Hadi said it would only be decided on the nomination day this Saturday.
He did not deny or confirm that Pas is also considering to make way for former BN Arau member of parliament Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim to contest under the PN ticket.
“In nature, politics is something dynamic and we welcome all winnable candidates. Things can change from time to time…everything will only be confirmed during the nomination day,” he said. – NST