KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi believes that parties within and outside Umno are working to sow disunity among members and paint Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in a bad light.
Puad, an Umno Supreme Council member, said this was evident from a viral post, which alleged that Pekan Umno division vice-chief Datuk Nizar Mohd Najib had met opposition leaders to topple the Pahang unity government.
Puad claimed the allegations were being spread by some quarters within the party to divide Umno and tarnish Zahid's reputation.
"I believe there are parties inside and outside of Umno working together to spread this nonsense.
"There are some individuals within Umno who are planning to return to the Umno mainstream.
"However, these sidelined individuals are spreading these false stories to make Umno appear divided and blame Zahid," he told the New Straits Times.
He said these quarters were using Nizar's name on the assumption that the latter was upset over his father's fate, and were pushing the narrative in hopes that Umno members would believe the allegations.
"They are mistaken. Nizar has Najib's (former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak) DNA.
"Betraying Umno is like betraying his father and his grandfather Tun Razak (former prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein)," he said.
Puad said this "desperate faction" within Umno is holding backdoor meetings with Pas and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia leaders to weaken the unity government.
"This is why they started this operation in Pahang and Nizar was their initial target for slander.
"Nizar refuting the claim has crushed their attempts. Umno members trust Nizar just as they are loyal to Najib," Puad said.
He is confident that Nizar firmly supported Umno and would not leave the party.
"He is like Najib. Although Najib is in prison, he has not condemned or blamed the party. He has not incited party members to betray Umno," he said.
The controversy began when a social media post went viral, claiming, 'Pahang sedang goyang! (Pahang is unstable). New state government will be formed. Anak Bossku sudah jumpa PN (Bossku's son has met PN)' with the word 'Fitnah' (slander) written in red.
Nizar has dismissed rumours that he had met opposition leaders to topple the Pahang unity government.
Nizar said he would remain loyal to Umno, Barisan Nasional and the current Pahang government.