KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi was told by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (pic) three days after Pakatan Rakyat’s intended Sept 16, 2008 takeover that the plan was still on course as the Opposition had enough members of parliament to form a new Government, the court heard.
In a witness statement tendered in the High Court on Tuesday, Mohd Puad said he had received a call on Sept 19, 2008 from one Dr Abdul Rahim Ghouse asking to meet and that the Opposition’s planned takeover was on schedule.
He said he agreed to meet Abdul Rahim and one Azman Hussin at about 2am on the same day at Batu Pahat Bus Station.
“He informed me the Sept 16 plan would definitely occur in several weeks and later invited me to cross over.
“Abdul Rahim also told me that several Barisan MPs had signed an acceptance letter (surat persetujuan) to provide support to the plaintiff as Prime Minister,” the Umno supreme council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi said.
Mohd Puad said he understood that the letter was as a statutory declaration.
He said Abdul Rahim claimed that 30 Barisan MPs would cross over and the letter would be handed over to the Yang Dipertuan Agong as a proof that the Anwar had obtained a majority voice in the Dewan Rakyat.
“I told Abdul Rahim that I was not prepared to sign the statutory declaration,” Mohd Puad added.
He said Abdul Rahim later called the plaintiff on his handphone after which the former handed the device to him to enable him speak to Anwar.
Mohd Puad said Anwar had informed him that the Opposition had the numbers to form a government but that it still needed a Malay MP from Johor.
He said Anwar had also told him that four Sultans had agreed and expressed support for Pakatan.
Mohd Puad was giving his testimony in a suit filed by Anwar against Foreign Minister and Kimanis MP Datuk Seri Anifah Amman and the Government over allegedly libellous statements made against him abroad.
On May 27, 2009, Anwar sued Anifah in his personal and official capacities and the Government, claiming that the minister had linked his name to an alleged offer of a top Cabinet post.
The PKR adviser claimed that the words uttered by Anifah implied that he was a dishonest person.
The hearing before High Court judge Justice Siti Khadijah S. Hassan Badjenid continues on Dec 26.-thestar
