Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has challenged the Umno leader he claimed was planning to "topple the government", to deny it publicly.

"If he has guts, this person must deny it through the press," said Ahmad Zahid.

Speaking at the Klang Umno division annual general meeting today, Ahmad Zahid said that the plot and its plotter was real.

"I know this thing is happening because as Home Minister,  I receive information and I will also find out who is behind it.

"I don't have to expose the person as this will reveal itself," he said, according to Bernama .

Earlier today, Ahmad Zahid had claimed that this mystery person was attempting was "topple the government" by getting MPs from both sides of the divide to sign a seven-page statutory declaration.

Once that is done, the MPs will declare that they have the majority in the Dewan Rakyat.

Court of perception

Despite challenging the person to deny it, Ahmad Zahid did not provide any names.

Thus far, Johor Menteri Besar Khaled Nordin has publicly stated that he was not the person mentioned by Ahmad Zahid.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid warned Umno members against persecuting its leader based on perception.

"This is because there are four types of courts, namely the court of justice, people's court who are the voters, court of perception and court of public opinion.

"It is unfair for our nation's top leaders, especially (Prime Minister) Najib (Abdul Razak), to be judged by the court of public opinion and court of perception because we know they cannot do that.

"I urge that UMNO members not get involved with unqualified judges from these two 'courts'," he said.

Also present was Selangor Umno head Noh Omar and Klang Umno division chief Nasaruddin Md Zin.