Now, Mahathir reveals Zahid asked for his help, too

Dr Mahathir Mohamad today said that he too had been met by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who came to ask for his help in having the corruption charges against him dropped.

“He came to my house with two or three others and he tried to make nice with me,” the former prime minister said at a press conference in Putrajaya today.

“But I already knew about Zahid’s troubles, that there was a possibility that he would be arrested over his criminal cases.”

Mahathir’s comments today followed those of Muhyiddin Yassin, who also said that Zahid had approached him hoping to persuade him to intervene in the charges against him.

The revelation, first reported by MalaysiaNow in March last year, sparked a strong denial by Zahid who said he was willing to take an oath or “sumpah laknat” on the matter.

But Muhyiddin said yesterday that he had spoken the truth, adding that Zahid was free to take as many oaths as he wished.

Mahathir became prime minister for the second time in 2018, holding the top office for 22 months before the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan administration.

Speaking today, the Langkawi MP said he had learnt after Umno returned to power that Zahid was still trying to get help in having the corruption charges against him dropped.

“That is Zahid… and he wanted the investigations against him dropped as well, that is the truth,” he said.

Zahid faces a total of 87 charges, including 47 of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering involving funds from charity outfit Yayasan Akalbudi.

The remaining 40 see Zahid accused of accepting bribes from a company related to the overseas visa system.

He was told in January this year to enter his defence for the 47 charges linked to Yayasan Akalbudi.