KUALA LUMPUR – Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman had purportedly lashed out at the party leadership over deviating from its plan of fully withdrawing from the government, a leaked audio clip reveals.
During the council’s meeting last Wednesday, a livid Tajuddin told his cohorts that pulling the plug on the prime minister alone, and not Perikatan Nasional (PN), was not the decision made during its general assembly in March.
He did, however, say it is not currently the right time for Umno to fully remove itself from the government.
“Who did not agree with pulling out (from PN)? Everyone agreed. The council members and parliamentarians agreed… everyone agreed,” he was heard saying in the audio clip.
The only thing is that those opposed to it were against doing so now. There was no mention (during the assembly) that we wanted to retract support for the prime minister. This has gone wayward.”
Tajuddin said he could sense that the party’s decision to merely withdraw support for Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was a “tactical move” after the party realised that quitting the government was “not workable”.
“This is a very important thing, PAU (general assembly) did not say withdraw support for the prime minister. PAU said to withdraw from the government. And we all agreed. It was a matter of timing.”
The leak also comes after party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced Umno no longer supports Muhyiddin, citing seven failures of the government in administering the country.
He did so after the Supreme Council meeting that dragged on into the wee hours of last Thursday.
Umno able to face an election soon?
Tajuddin, who is Pasir Salak MP, chastised the party’s apparent ill-preparedness in facing the upcoming general election.
If we pull our support (for PN), some of us will ask ‘what’s next?’. What’s going to happen? Do you want an election?”
Tajuddin is then heard knocking on a table, quizzing party members: “I want to ask you now, do you know the status of our constituencies? Are you ready to face the election?”
“I’m telling you that the data shows that you need another year to strengthen your election machinery.”
He added that the party machinery required funds to work, which the party had not provided.
“Until now we haven’t given them (any money). They cannot work because they have no money. But there are leaders who ask them to find or use their own (money).
“That’s easier said than done, the reality is that they need some support. Financial support. Without the financial support, they cannot work.”
‘Bad decisions’
Tajuddin told the council members that although they agreed to no longer support Muhyiddin, the party must consider the matter thoroughly.
He said this is because Umno has made several missteps over the past few years.
“Don’t allow our decision to lead to the destruction of Umno. I don’t want that to happen, but I will be very frank with you here. There are many decisions we made in the past (that have) all gone wrong. Gone wrong!
Entering Perikatan Nasional was a mistake. Muafakat Nasional, we formed but did not look after. We wanted to work with (Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim, also a mistake. So many things were a mistake.”
He added that Umno could not assure that Muhyiddin’s would be removed due to its decision as parties such as DAP could decide to back the prime minister, rendering the move ineffective.
Tajuddin also slammed the council for not congratulating its vice-president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, unlike the party’s division chiefs, adding that Ismail Sabri’s appointment as deputy prime minister could help Umno see a return to a prime ministerial post.
In the clip, Tajuddin said he had been a long-time supporter of Zahid, but “this time, I beg to differ”. – The Vibes, July 13, 2021
