DR Mahathir Mohamad is the real mastermind behind a plot to topple Prime Minister Najib Razak, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today.

The deputy prime minister and Umno vice-president said he had a recording of the meeting between him and Dr Mahathir in 2015, shortly after Zahid was elected to the post.

The former prime minister suggested to Zahid that Najib could be ousted through a vote of no-confidence.

“My conversation on this with the former leader was recorded and the tape is still with me. At the time, I was just into my 10th day as deputy prime minister. Does it make sense that I would want to topple Najib when I was just appointed DPM?” he said at the opening of the Jerlun Umno delegates’ conference today.

Dr Mahathir, who is now an opposition leader, said recently Zahid met him soon after his appointment as DPM to seek his (Dr Mahathir’s ) blessings to topple Najib. – Bernama, August 4, 2017.