Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman has proven with his “tell-all” conference that he, and not Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, is a liability to the party, says Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed.
The Johor Umno deputy chairman questioned the Pasir Salak MP and former supreme council member’s claim that 130 division chiefs did not support Zahid.
“There has been no motion from any division throughout the country that wants Zahid to step down as party president,” Nur Jazlan told The Star on Tuesday (June 28).
“In fact, Umno, under the leadership of Zahid, successfully carried out its annual general meetings (AGM) and even an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) without any divisions calling for him to step down.”
He reminded Zahid’s critics within the party to respect the decisions made during the AGMs and EGM as they came from Umno’s grassroots.
In a press conference on Monday (June 27), Tajuddin claimed there was a movement led by Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and Datuk Seri Najib Razak to pressure Zahid into resigning as party president.
Tajuddin alleged that the plot was to collect signatures from division chiefs for a memorandum urging Zahid’s resignation, and that preliminary internal party studies had shown that this move was supported by 130 out of 191 Umno division chiefs.
He said the plot was hatched in a meeting at his house in May 2020. He did not give a specific date.
“The purpose of this meeting was to draft a memorandum to urge Ahmad Zahid to resign (as party president) for Umno’s interest.
“So, we agreed at this meeting that we should draft this memorandum… Tok Mat was leading and then ‘Bossku’,” he said, referring to the respective nicknames of Mohamad and Najib.
Aside from Mohamad and Najib, Tajuddin claimed, the meeting at his house was also attended by several prominent leaders, including party vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
Tajuddin, who showed reporters pictures purportedly from the clandestine meeting, said he could also reveal the names of the 130 division chiefs who were in favour of Zahid resigning.
“There are about 18 division chiefs in Perak and 18 in Selangor who support this. If there is a need to show the list, I can do it.
“But there is no need to show, because I protect my friends,” he said.
However, he claimed that the plan to hand the memorandum to Zahid failed to take off when Mohamad suddenly backtracked after the Umno deputy president was threatened by “budak Zahid” (Zahid’s boys).
Tajuddin said Zahid is still eyeing on becoming prime minister.
He added that this was one of the reasons why there are calls for an early election.
“This is merely a ‘bait’ for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri. In reality, he (Zahid) wants to become PM but you know he “tak boleh pakai” (not qualified).
“Zahid will arrange everything, from who the candidates contest in the election, and this includes my constituency.