“Zahid and I have known each other for long, since 1986.
“He is not just my loyal deputy, but also my friend who is always beside me in good times and bad times.”
The Umno president said he did not believe in the allegation that Zahid had conspired to topple him, calling it slander.
“It does not make sense for my deputy to want to overthrow me. Not possible and not true. It is complete slander.
“Let us not linger on this issue. Have faith in the strong Umno leadership. And I will continue to have confidence in Zahid. End of story,” he said when officiating the Shah Alam Umno division delegates’ meeting today.
Yesterday, Zahid had said he was prepared to swear in a mosque that he was not involved in an alleged conspiracy to bring down Najib.
The acting deputy president of Umno said he was not afraid of facing the issue, saying he had an audio recording of a meeting with the leader who was behind the conspiracy.
“I have the voice recording and photos of the meeting with that person,” he had said.
“I am ready to accept the challenge and am willing to swear in any mosque that the one who planned to topple the prime minister was that person and not me.
“But that person must also be willing to swear as well,” Zahid said.
On July 31, PPBM chairman Mahathir had said Zahid approached him to seek his support to replace Najib as the prime minister soon after being appointed as deputy prime minister in 2015.
The allegation came after a series of attacks by Zahid on the Pakatan Harapan chairman, including his reference to the former prime minister’s Indian lineage.
On Aug 4, Zahid said his meeting with Mahathir was also attended by several individuals who had planned to topple Najib by petitioning to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and planning a no-confidence vote.
He said he would not betray Najib, saying he was grateful to the prime minister who he served as political secretary in 1987.
“How could I take down the prime minister 10 days after my appointment?
“I don’t bite the hand that feeds me,” Zahid added.
Mahathir, not Zahid, behind plot to overthrow PM, says Hisham