KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 — Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has refuted claims that he was ousted by Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi or Umno, clarifying that he stepped down from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) on his own terms.
Dr Mahathir explained that his decision to resign was prompted by Bersatu's rejection of his advice, not due to any external pressure from Ahmad Zahid or Umno.
“I can’t be ousted by Ahmad Zahid or his party. A party that lost the election has no right to remove the party that won,” he said in a statement.
He emphasised that a leader who loses the trust of his followers should step down honourably, which is what he chose to do.
“I resigned from Bersatu because they rejected my advice,” Dr Mahathir added.
On Saturday, Ahmad Zahid admitted to being the "mastermind” behind the ousting of Dr Mahathir Mohamad as prime minister.
Speaking at the launching of Cameron Highlands Umno division meeting, the deputy prime minister said he did so to save Umno from getting deregistered.
“I must state, and admit, that I was the main mastermind who brought down Tun Dr Mahathir at that time, because there was no way Umno could be banned, insulted, and accused of various things... labelled as thieves or corrupt,” he was reported saying by Berita Harian.
Dr Mahathir said that the Zahid should not regard himself as a hero that tried to oust him to "save Umno".
“Zahid is not a hero. He is a person who is accused in the court and willing to make Umno cooperate with its bitter enemy DAP in order to become the deputy prime minister and save himself from being tried at the court for the criminal charges,” he said.
Dr Mahathir also claimed that Zahid had met him twice after Umno lost in the 14th election and again when he was charged in the court for corruption.
“After meeting Zahid for the second time, he tried to explain that he was innocent in the accusations of corruption that were spread widely.
“I explained that I had no authority to release him. The evidence that he shown to me should have been shown to the court instead, to plead his innocence,” he said.
