No Rift Between Me and Anwar, Says Malaysia DPM Zahid

Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has rejected claims of a rift with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, saying their working relationship remains intact.

“I do not have any problems (with Anwar), either personally or in an official capacity,” Zahid said after the closing ceremony of the National Orang Asli Sports Carnival in Iskandar Puteri on Sept. 6. He was responding to a foreign news report that said relations between the two leaders had worsened.

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I do not have any problems (with Anwar), either personally or in an official capacity.

Zahid, who also serves as Rural and Regional Development Minister and chairs Barisan Nasional, said decisions within the government continued to be made professionally. “The fact is that there are no problems when we are in Cabinet meetings or at official events involving ministries, departments and agencies at Federal level,” he said.

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What is important for Barisan, as a component of the unity government, is to ensure political stability in the country until the end of the term.

He added that Umno’s general assembly had decided the party would remain in the unity government until the end of its term. “What is important for Barisan, as a component of the unity government, is to ensure political stability in the country until the end of the term,” Zahid said.

He said political stability was important to avoid uncertainty, particularly among foreign investors, while supporting foreign direct investment and Malaysia’s economic growth.

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The fact is that there are no problems when we are in Cabinet meetings or at official events involving ministries, departments and agencies at Federal level.