FORMER UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman claimed that someone from within the Malay-based party is out to try and sabotage his UMNO suspension appeal.
Tajuddin claimed that the motion was brought forth by the UMNO Pasir Salak division committee in a meeting three weeks ago which, among others, had urged the party leadership to not entertain any appeals.
“The motion was informed that it had the support of a large majority of committee members, while only a small number disagreed,” Sinar Harian reported Tajuddin as saying yesterday (Aug 30).
“They made an appeal to the party leadership so that my appeals to lift my suspension were ignored, which means that they do not agree to my return to UMNO.
“They make it sounds as if I am still against the UMNO president, causing problems for the party to the point of causing the defeat of UMNO candidates in the previous election.”
The former three-term Pasir Salak MP also did not rule out the possibility that such efforts were made as there were rumours that his appeal would be accepted, and his suspension would be overturned.
As a party veteran, he noted that it is rare for a party member to be suspended for an extended length of time until the end of the term.
“It is possible that my appeal (for my suspension to be overturned) would be successful, and that is why they had quickly made a motion for me to be expelled from UMNO,” he noted.
“I am not sure if the President (Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) and the top leadership of the party will listen to them or not, but this is a terrible effort and not ‘gentleman’ at all,” the former Kampong Gajah assemblyman remarked.
Tajuddin was previously reported to have submitted an appeal four times but has yet to receive any response from the party.
Meanwhile, UMNO Pasir Salak Division Chief, Khairul Azwan Harun refused to comment further on the allegations.
“No comment,” he said via a short message on WhatsApp, according to Sinar Harian.
The former Prasarana chairman was suspended last October by Zahid following criticisms against his leadership.
He along with Alor Setar Division UMNO leader Datuk Mohd Yusof Ismail were suspended by UMNO for six years.
On June 10th, Zahid said UMNO is open to calls to get sacked members to return to the party.
The Bagan Datuk MP pointed out that the supreme council and disciplinary board handled disciplinary issues involving party members carefully.
“We are open to this suggestion. We hope that those who have been sacked or suspended are those who are genuinely party men and not a ‘thorn in the flesh’,” Zahid had said. – Aug 31, 2023
