KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has demanded that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad apologise over claims he made about seeking Dr Mahathir’s help to drop corruption charges against him.

In a Facebook post from Wednesday (Feb 23), the Umno president said he has asked his lawyers to issue a letter of demand (LOD), ordering the former premier to retract his statements and apologise.

Ahmad Zahid clarified further that there was no way he would have been able to ask for Dr Mahathir’s help in such a public setting.

“I was invited along with other party members and presidents by Tun M to discuss supporting him in forming a unity government.

“When would I have had the chance to ask about my charges to be dropped in public?” he questioned.

Ahmad Zahid also scrutinised Dr M’s claims further, saying that at the time, the Langkawi MP had not been appointed the post of prime minister yet and that Ahmad Zahid was still deputy prime minister with no corruption-related charges.

“How could I have lobbied to have my charges dropped when Tun M hadn’t taken office as the seventh prime minister?

“During this period, I was also still deputy prime minister who had not been charged with any corruption-related investigations,” he added.

The Umno politician ended his post, stressing that he has ordered his lawyers to issue an LOD to the 96-year-old Pejuang chairman.

“I have instructed my legal team to issue an LOD to Tun M so he can apologise for his lies.”

In a press conference at the Perdana Leadership Foundation on Wednesday, Dr Mahathir told reporters that the Bagan Datuk MP was looking for ways to drop corruption charges against him after Pakatan Harapan came into power.

He claimed Ahmad Zahid had visited him at his house, along with three others to strengthen ties with the senior statesman.

“At the time, there was a chance I might become the prime minister, hence why he wanted to ‘play nice’ with me.

“But I knew of Ahmad Zahid’s problems and the possibility that he might be tried or imprisoned for his alleged wrongdoings,” said Dr Mahathir.