- This article has been updated with Ahmad Faizal Azumu's comments.
A video depicting Perak Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu claiming he is waging a desperate battle alone to protect Malay interests and Islam is going viral on social media.
"In Perak, I am fighting a desperate battle alone against 'puak-puak' (factions) DAP.
"I want to defend the land of the Malays, I want to champion our religion," he tells a group of people during an informal discussion.
"(But) I do it, slowly. 'Alhamduillah' (thank God), my Umno friends (in Perak) do not scold me like this," he added.
However, Faizal later claimed the video is an inaccurate representation of the discussion and that certain irresponsible parties recorded only a portion of his remarks.
Initially, a 2.47 minute clip of the discussion was uploaded on one Azizi Safar's Facebook page. However, a longer six-minute version appeared on Facebook later.
Meanwhile, Faizal told the group - whom he met together with Pakatan Harapan candidate for the Tanjung Piai by-election Karmaine Sardini - he cannot discuss certain things in a frank manner but made a vague reference that a solution to the problem is around the corner.
"Actually, we are close (to solving the matter). No need to fight... Actually, this thing will be resolved soon...
"Actually, I don't want to talk about this. 'Paham-pahamlah' (you should understand).
"Perak because the seat is 'ngam-ngam' (just nice). Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu. If not, we are finished. 'Jahanam' kita (we are finished).
"We are now depending on Sabah, Sarawak. If not, 'Melayu jahanam' (Malays are finished)," he added.
In Perak, Harapan holds a tenuous majority of two seats in the state assembly, with DAP holding the most number of seats among its coalition partners with 18.
Bersatu has two seats, Amanah 4, PKR 6, Umno 25 and PAS 3.
Faizal also said he did not sit with the ministers during the nomination of candidates for the by-election.
"I sat with the Umno gang...I am fed up with the ministers, they also fight," he added.
However, the Bersatu leader, in clarifying the video, denied the existence of a rift with DAP and claimed that his remarks were taken out of context.
"I have been saying that I have gone through a lot in Perak and there are DAP leaders who run me down.
"What is important is that we all work closely together," he told FMT.