'I didn't realise my name was there' – Lipis MP

KUALA LUMPUR – Lipis MP Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad has no knowledge his name was listed in the statutory declaration (SD) supporting Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister after the 15th General Election (GE15).

The Deputy Works Minister said he did not keep up with news.

“My name was there? I didn’t realise it. I rarely watch the news,” he said.

He said this to reporters after Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s keynote speech for the 2022 Umno General Assembly (2022 PAU) at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre (WTCKL), here, on Friday.

Rahman however did not deny that he could be one of the 10 MPs involved.

“I don’t deny it, but I didn’t know about it. If it was as such, is there any problems?” he questioned.

Jelebu MP Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias on Thursday rebutted the claims of his actions and the nine Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs supporting the Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman as prime minister as betraying the party.

Jalaluddin said after Umno and BN decided their final stance to join the unity government under the leadership of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim they had agreed to retract the SDs.

He said their early decision to sign the SDs were in line with the party narrative at the time.

“I didn’t think it was an issue that backstabs or betraying the party.

“A betrayal to the party would be continuing to support the opposition to ensure BN candidates lose when they faced GE15. That is a betrayal.

“When we faced GE15, we put our best efforts to ensure BN wins. I contested under the BN ticket. When the party decides, we agree,” he said when met by reporters at the 2022 Umno Wings General Assembly at WTCKL on Thursday.