KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk A. Kadir Jasin wondered whether a viral photo of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad with Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hassan and four senior party leaders is an attempt to weasel out of ongoing corruption cases.
The Prime Minister’s media and communications advisor made the cynical observation when confirming the authenticity of the photo, which showed an evening meeting between the Prime Minister and five senior Umno members.
Kadir made the observation in a Facebook post over the viral photo, which showed an Oct 22 meeting between Dr Mahathir and the five Umno members.
Among them are Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, and former party Supreme Council members Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, and Tan Sri Noh Omar.
Kadir, who is also Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) supreme council member, while confirming the authenticity of the photo, dismissed the Umno members attempt as futile.
“The Prime Minister that they castigated back then, is now having dinner with them. If this was back in the age of kings, (the Umno members) could already die of poisoning.
“There must be someone among them who was hoping that the meeting with Tun Dr Mahathir would give a lifeline to them.
“But they are grossly mistaken. On Nov 15, Adnan Mansor was charged at court with corruption.
“Meeting the PM is normal. Entering and leaving (political) parties is also normal. But a crime is still a crime,” he wrote.
The viral picture also attracted a Twitter post from former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, who cynically questioned whether it was a secret meeting.
Umno has been hit with a series of defections following the historic 14th General Elections on May 9, with the later defection in Sabah whereby five Umno members of Parliament left the party.
