KUALA LUMPUR: Former Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob claims that a significant number of Umno state assemblymen are ready to follow him if he decides to become an independent.
However, Adnan, who is Pelangai state assemblyman and Bentong Umno chief, said he has no intention to do so and will remain an Umno member.
He called on Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to remain calm in the face of adversity and not to issue any statements which could “create more enemies.”
“As a senior person, I am advising the president to not panic during this time when Umno is unstable. Don’t make more enemies. I am merely thinking of the fate of the Menteri Besar (Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail) whom I regard as a younger brother.
“I just want to say that I don’t wield that much influence. I was only an MB for 19 years. If I were to declare myself as an independent today, a large number of state assemblymen would follow me.
“I’m not boasting about being able to topple the Pahang Barisan Nasional government. That’s not my intention. For now, I am a solid Umno member. It’s only Umno that appears to be less than solid at the moment,” he said.
Adnan’s views were shared by Sembrong MP and former Umno vice-president, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, who passed Adnan’s message to reporters via WhatsApp.
Hishammuddin was asked to respond to allegations by Zahid that a movement was in place to “buy out” the state’s MPs and assemblymen to topple the state government.
Hishammuddin said Adnan’s message was a sufficient response to Zahid’s claims.
“Let Pahang leaders answer you, my friend. The former MB has spoken. Rahman Lipis (Datuk Abdul Rahman Mohamad, Ahli Parlimen Kuala Lipis) has also answered the Press’,” wrote Hishammuddin.
Zahid, via the Umno Online portal on Sunday, had claimed that several individuals within the party were engineering a move to convince or even threaten MPs and assemblymen in order to topple the BN state government.
Meanwhile, in his statement, Adnan also denied that Hishammuddin and Larut MP Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin were in the midst of convincing Pahang MPs and assemblymen to leave Umno.
Adnan said Zahid’s statement appeared to be “too vague.”
“It looks like I’ll have to comment on the president’s latest statement. I regard the president as a sibling. I have never critcised him even when there were things he did that I didn’t agree with.
“My division nominated him as president. The Pekan division nominated Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.
“As far as I know, neither Hishammuddin nor Hamzah had contacted anyone in Pahang to urge MPs or assemblymen to leave Umno.
“You don’t need to be a minister of the police or the army to get information. Even as an MB, I was privy to information, including confidential ones on the president.
“I’m not writing this to blame anyone. I am required to respond in the context of Pahang Umno.
“My advice to everyone is, be smart. In times when support is crucial, don’t make more enemies. I apologise if the president or anyone is offended,” he said.
Adnan also said that he had met Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad only once, compared to Zahid who had more meetings with the PM.
“I never asked to meet Tun. Tun was the one who called me to meet him. Before meeting Tun, I relayed this to the Pemangku Raja and informed the MB.
“My half-an-hour meeting with Tun centred on the future of the Malays. I met Tun only once. The president has met with Tun more times,” he said.