PETALING JAYA: Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says he is willing to take the "sumpah laknat" (an oath used by Muslims to swear on the truth of their word) to refute claims he sought help to get corruption charges against him dropped.

       He said this after Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin claimed that Ahmad Zahid had appealed for his help in getting the charges dropped when he (Muhyiddin) was prime minister.

       Ahmad Zahid said claims of Umno leaders trying to strike deals were bound to emerge with election season nearing, in reference to the Johor state election on March 12.

       "We shall wait till the candidates are named for the coming elections. I am sure more such stories about Umno candidates will come out.

       "If there are no elections, no such stories will come out.

       "I never visited Muhyiddin when he was prime minister to ask for help to get my court cases dropped.

       "Let alone bringing piles of files and asking to be let off as claimed.

       "I urge him to show proof. I am prepared to take a 'sumpah laknat' to deny Muhyiddin's allegations against me.

       "I want to ask if he is prepared to do the same and take the same oath to back his allegations," he said in a Facebook post Sunday (Feb 20).

       Muhyiddin, who is also Pagoh MP, had claimed during a ceramah in Tangkak, Johor, on Feb 16 that Ahmad Zahid had visited his home with piles of files a few days after he was sworn in as prime minister in 2020.

       He claimed that Ahmad Zahid asked for help as he had not done the things of which he was accused.

       Muhyiddin said he refused to help, prompting Ahmad Zahid to back efforts to oust him as prime minister.

       Muhyiddin resigned as prime minister on Aug 15 last year after a group of Umno MPs, including Ahmad Zahid, withdrew their support for him, costing him his majority in the Dewan Rakyat.

       Muhyiddin said Bersatu supreme council member Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali and PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang happened to be at his home when Ahmad Zahid turned up and so there were witnesses.

       Ahmad Zahid is facing 47 counts of money laundering, criminal breach of trust and bribery over tens of millions of ringgit belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi, a charitable organisation he founded.

       He is also facing 40 charges of bribery involving more than RM43mil over the Foreign Visa System.