THE audio clip purportedly of the Umno and PKR presidents discussing the outcome of the Umno annual general meeting is being used to tarnish Pakatan Harapan (PH) parties, said Anwar Ibrahim.

The PKR chief and Opposition Leader said the clip made it look as if PH parties were disunited.

“Such slander is being spread after failed attempts to threaten and bribe opposition leaders.

“There are attempts to slander us, to make people question PKR, DAP or Amanah,” media quoted Anwar saying at a PKR event in Selangor last night.

Anwar was commenting on the audio recording that has gone viral purportedly of him and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi speaking after Umno’s AGM late last month.

The voice said to be Anwar’s praised Zahid for the assembly’s decision to break ties with Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional (PN) in the 15th general election.

A second voice, said to be Zahid’s, is also heard saying that this was a “tactical” move to have the decision come from the floor.

Prior to the Umno assembly, Anwar revealed that he held exploratory talks with Umno leaders on possible cooperation with PKR in GE15, but stressed that nothing had been finalised.

The Port Dickson MP last night denied speaking to Zahid in the audio clip. Zahid yesterday also denied that it was his voice in the recording.

“It’s not my doing. That’s why I’ve asked my officer to lodge a police report on the matter. Let the police investigate.”

Anwar added that such tactics showed PN was desperate after Umno had rejected electoral cooperation with the ruling coalition.

“Bersatu is using this purported conversation between me and Zahid for political purposes, to attack the Umno leadership.

“It shows how desperate the leaders of this country are to use whatever means, threats, bribes, and if these don’t work, they spread lies.” – April 8, 2021.