Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has denied claims that his relationship with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has become increasingly strained, saying the two continue to maintain cordial ties.
The Umno president was responding to a Bloomberg report which cited sources as saying tensions between him and Anwar had been worsening, with recent Cabinet meetings allegedly ending earlier than usual.
Zahid dismissed the report, saying Cabinet meetings had continued to end at around 1pm as normal.
“Cabinet meetings have been ending at 1pm as usual, not as reported,” he was quoted as saying by Utusan Malaysia.
He also pointed to the seating arrangement during Cabinet meetings, saying he sat beside Anwar, while DAP secretary-general and Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook was seated next to him.
Zahid added that his relationship with Loke also remained very good.
The Bloomberg report had linked the alleged tensions between Anwar and Zahid to Zahid’s decision for Barisan Nasional (BN) to contest against Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections.
It also reported that the situation was further complicated by DAP’s push for institutional reforms to be implemented by year-end, while Anwar continued to rely on BN’s support to secure a two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat for constitutional amendments.
Zahid, however, reiterated that BN would honour its commitment to remain in the unity government until the end of the current parliamentary term.
“Umno is a party that keeps its promises. The decision was made to remain until the end of the 15th Parliament’s term.
“What is important is that we remain in the government, because that was the resolution unanimously adopted by Umno delegates at the previous general assembly,” he said.
Last month, former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin claimed that trust between Anwar and Zahid had reached its lowest point following BN’s decision to work with Perikatan Nasional (PN) in the Negeri Sembilan election.
Anwar subsequently dismissed the claim, saying Khairy was merely expressing his “personal view”.
