BAGAN DATUK: Caretaker Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob today denied any rift with his party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
"I have known him since my school days. I know him… not only him but his wife when they were in love and yet to tie the knot. I know them.
"They (the Opposition) are trying to divide (the relationship between Ismail Sabri and Ahmad Zahid) us but please don't try to do that. Nothing can break the relationship between me and Zahid," he said.
Ismail Sabri, who is also Umno vice-president said this in his speech at Solidarity - Stability and Prosperity Programme at Dewan Perdana, Bagan Datuk Umno Division Complex here, today.
Also present were BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Umno vice president Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and Perak BN chairman, Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.
There has been speculation on Ahmad Zahid and Ismail Sabri's relationship, as it is the first time that an Umno vice-president has been made a prime minister, a post customarily filled by the president.
Ismail Sabri added that only solidarity would determine the party's success to continue running the country.
"When an outsider said there is a faction in Umno, it made me and the president ponder and we said we needed to put a stop to this. This is a bad perception and of course, the Opposition wants to divide us.
"If we are not united, we might lose the next general election. That is why we need to embrace solidarity in order to strengthen the party. There is no issue between me and Zahid.
"There is no issue, they just made that up. Now, it is paramount for us to unite," the Bera member of parliament stressed.
Ahmad Zahid in his speech later said that he has known Ismail Sabri since 1973 when they met at Universiti Malaya (UM).
"His brother, Kamarazaman Yaakob was my roommate. Every weekend he (Ismail Sabri) would come to my room.
"Don't try to divide us, we have known each other since 1973. It's a waste of time," he said, adding that he hoped solidarity would strengthen the relationship among party members to face the 15th General Election (GE15).