AHMAD Zahid Hamidi revealed the names of Umno MPs who signed statutory declarations supporting Muhyiddin Yassin to become prime minister after the November general election, party sources said.

They said the Umno president named the party members involved during a meeting with delegates at World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur today ahead of the party’s annual general meeting, which begins tomorrow with the youth, wanita and puteri wings assemblies.

A delegate who attended the meeting said among those named is Sembrong MP and former defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

“The names were mentioned (by Zahid) when the president talked about how the unity government came to be formed and the party’s role in it,” said the delegate who did not want to be named.

However, another source said Zahid told the audience that Bera MP and former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob was not in the group.

Following the general election, Muhyiddin, who is Bersatu president, an Umno splinter, claimed that he had majority support to form the federal government.

Among those who were said to have backed him were 10 Barisan Nasional (BN) lawmakers.

Perikatan Nasional had won 73 seats and Pakatan Harapan, 82.

BN, which secured 30 seats, went on to become the kingmaker.

Meanwhile, Federal Territories Umno chief Johari Abdul Ghani was quoted as saying by news portal Free Malaysia Today that Zahid had driven home the message that the party did not want to see treachery within its ranks.

The Titiwangsa MP said this meant that Umno members should stick with the party when it faces “contests” of any kind.

“That was the main point – let there be no treachery (within our ranks),” he was quoted as telling reporters after the briefing. – January 11, 2023.