KUALA LUMPUR: Umno leadership wants snap polls not for the nation but to save Umno and Barisan Nasional "court clusters" from facing the brunt of the law.
DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang said Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's statement at the recent MIC Congress was a "brutally frank admission".
"Ahmad Zahid Hamidi made a brutally frank speech at the MIC Congress on Monday moments before the (caretaker) Prime Minister (Datuk Seri) Ismail Sabri (Yaakob) went on television to announce the dissolution of Parliament to pave the way for the holding of the 15th general election.
"Zahid's speech is a frank admission that the Umno leadership wants immediate GE15 not for the sake of Umno, Malays, Malaysians nor the nation but to save the Umno and BN 'Court Clusters' from being charged in court," he said in his blog today.
Lim said Zahid had also made a "stunning" revelation that there was not only an Umno "court cluster" but also a BN "court cluster".
"Mentioned persons in the 'waiting list' to be charged in court if Umno-BN does hot win the government, such as Umno deputy president, (Datuk Seri) Mohamad Hassan, Umno minister (Datuk Seri) Hishammuddin Hussein, MCA president (Datuk Seri ) Wee Ka Siong, MIC president, Tan Sri S.A. Vigneswaran and MIC deputy president (Datuk Seri ) M. Saravanan.
"Their silence since Monday was deafening. Zahid may know more than ordinary people, but it is up to the five Umno, MCA and MIC leaders mentioned by Zahid to defend themselves from Zahid's remarks.
"After Zahid's speech at the MIC Congress, there is no need for any other BN manifesto for the 15GE but only one: 'Free Umno and BN Court Clusters from being charged in court and sent to jail!".
At the MIC congress on Monday, Zahid said the dissolution of Parliament cannot be delayed any longer.
He was quoted as saying BN has to win dominantly in the GE15.
"It is now or never. If we get defeated, not only will I be charged, Tok Mat will be next.
"Tan Sri Vicky (Vigneswaran) don't laugh, you too will be next and (Wee) Ka Siong, they won't forget you)," he said.
Ismail Sabri had announced the dissolution of Parliament on Monday after obtaining the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, putting an end to rumours and speculations that had grown stronger since the end of September.