KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi dropped a bombshell today, revealing attempts to persuade Barisan Nasional (BN) to withdraw from the unity government and form a new one, with an offer of the Prime Minister's position in exchange.
The BN chairman, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, however, did not reveal who made these attempts.
"There have been offers, saying that they want to replace the current government, and suggesting that BN will be the prime minister.
"I said to them - no way, don't ever waste your time.
"We must strengthen this unity government," he said at the Federal Territories BN convention here, today.
"My answer was firm. I will not betray my friends even though I have been betrayed before, and that is what I stand by," he said.
Zahid, who is also Umno president, also disclosed that there were opposition members of Parliament who came to see him last week asking him to form a "new unity government".
"In return, they asked for four cabinet posts to be given to them.
"Why do they feel that way? Because they have tasted blood, they know what it feels like to become ministers."
He said the actions of opposition MPs proved that their strength was waning.
"So I'm asking all of you here. Are we strong enough? Not yet. Is the opposition strong? They are weakening," he added.
He warned BN members not to take advantage of others to get ahead.
"Don't step on others to rise. When we do that, we will fall in disgrace.
"As easy as it was for us to climb, it will be easy for us to fall. This is not in the Quran or hadith, this is the nature of politics," he said.