KUALA LUMPUR: Several Pas leaders should take leave, as they too are under investigation, says Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The deputy prime minister was responding to Pas deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man's call for him to go on leave for allegedly misleading then Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah during the statutory declarations (SDs) process after the 15th general election.

"Many Pas leaders should also go on leave as they are also being investigated," he said during a press conference after launching the International Legal Conference on Online Harms 2024 today.

Previously, Zahid said that he was ready to face any investigation regarding the accusations. 

The controversy centres around former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's claim of having 115 SDs backing his bid for the premiership. 

However, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim countered this, saying that some members of parliament signed more than once, discrediting Muhyiddin's claim.

On the upcoming Mahkota by-election, Zahid said that Johor Umno liaison chairman Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi would soon announce Barisan Nasional's candidate. 

It was reported Umno has shortlisted several candidates to contest the by-election on Sept 28.

The Election Commission has set Sept 14 for candidate nominations and early voting on Sept 24.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2024/09/1101542/zahid-sd-probe-many-pas-leaders-should-go-leave