Why has tape recording not been released, asks Kit Siang

He says both Ahmad Zahid and Mahathir are supposed to have a copy of the recording and says it should be played for everyone to know what actually transpired.

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PETALING JAYA: Reveal the so-called tape recording between former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang made this call following controversy over a claim by Mahathir that they had discussed about toppling Prime Minister Najib Razak at a meeting held soon after Zahid was appointed deputy PM in 2015.

Lim said Zahid has said right at the beginning that he has the recording of the meeting between him and Mahathir in 2015.

“In fact, he said Mahathir also has a copy of the same recording of the meeting that was held by them in 2015,” he said in a statement.

“If so, why has the tape recording of the Mahathir-Zahid meeting yet to be played for everybody to know what actually transpired if it is true that both Zahid and Mahathir have a tape recording of their meeting in 2015?”

Zahid has admitted he had a meeting with Mahathir days after his appointment as the deputy prime minister in 2015, but denied Mahathir’s claim that it was to seek support to topple Najib.

Speaking to Jerlun Umno division members on Friday, Zahid said he kept a recording of the meeting.

“I want to state that it took place with the prime minister’s blessing, 10 days after I was appointed the deputy prime minister.

“The recording is still with me. They forget easily, but I don’t.”

Zahid replaced Muhyiddin Yassin, after the latter’s fallout with Najib over the 1MDB affair.

“How could I take down the prime minister 10 days after my appointment?” Zahid asked.

The Umno president said today he did not believe in the allegation that Zahid had conspired to topple him, calling it slander.

“It does not make sense for my deputy to want to overthrow me. Not possible and not true. It is complete slander,” Najib said.

“Let us not linger on this issue. Have faith in the strong Umno leadership. And I will continue to have confidence in Zahid. End of story,” he said when officiating the Shah Alam Umno division delegates’ meeting today.

Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said Umno members must unite as this was just Mahathir trying to cause a split in the Umno leadership in the lead up to the 14th general election (GE14).