MUAR - Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin revealed that two Umno leaders who are facing court cases had asked him for help when he was still the prime minister.
In an exclusive interview with Sinar Harian, he said both ex-prime minister Najib Razak and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi visited him and he has witnesses to prove when Zahid told him "Tan Sri, please help me."
"My mind is still sharp. I remember there were witnesses to this," he said.
"There was Tuan Guru Haji Hadi, Datuk Seri Azmin Ali," he said.
Muhyiddin claimed Zahid visited him with a pile of files, "asking me to intervene."
"He said Tan Sri please help me."
"I told him what is there to be afraid off if you are not guilty. Tell the courts and your case will be dropped the next day," Muhyiddin claimed.
The eighth prime minister also claimed that ex-prime minister Najib Razak had met him on the court cases.
"I told him (Najib) I can't (help)," Muhyiddin said, adding that this could be the reason why he was asked to resign from his premiership in August 2021.
But he said not all Umno leaders or MPs did this.
"Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob did not do the same. The same in my Cabinet too."
He also pointed fingers at "Umno 15" who went against him after withdrawing support last year, causing Muhyiddin to lose majority support at the Dewan Rakyat.
"Where did I go wrong," Muhyiddin asked, stating that he did not want to interfere in Najib's and Zahid's court cases linked to corruption and money laundering.
"But for me, that was not a mistake. These are the principles that should be defended by a leader and the head of government.
"I cannot make such sacrifices. Nevermind. This is politics," Muhyiddin said.
Asked on reasons to support Umno's Ismail Sabri as the prime minister, Muhyiddin said the country was facing extraordinary times and due to that had decided to support Ismail who the party's vice-president.
"Secondly, I was also concerned if a person who is disliked by the rakyat will be chosen as the prime minister.
"So I called PN government leaders to discuss to name Ismail as the prime minister. He was seen neutral and appointed him as the deputy prime minister," he said.
Ismail was appointed as the country's number 2 in July 2021.
"Yes, it is an extraordinary decision. I supported the party that was the cause of my downfall."
On a question about his premiership, the 75-year-old said there was a constitutional crisis after Dr Mahathir Mohamad resigned from his top post.
"Did I plan out a conspiracy to take over the post? No. Have you heard of me spending millions of ringgit to be the prime minister? None," he said.
But he said there were efforts by PAS, Umno and Bersatu to form a new coalition which he named it PN.
He said even though some people named it a backdoor government but it was set up based on the federal constitution.
"I was challenged in court but it was rejected as the appointment (of the prime minister) was by the Yang di-Pertuan Aging based on the constitution and I had the majority support from MPs.
"Unfortunately because I did not bow to their (certain Umno leaders) demands (I was dropped)," he said.