[UPDATED] Isham Jalil to be appointed Umno Supreme Council member?

KUALA LUMPUR – Former Selangor Barisan Nasional (BN) information chief Isham Jalil has been invited to join Umno Supreme Council meeting tonight, drawing speculation that he might be appointed to the party’s top decision-making body. 

Isham, who was Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s special officer during his tenure as prime minister, said he was informed of the invitation by Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan. 

“I will be present. As an Umno grassroots member, I will help the party to the best of my ability for the sake of the rakyat and country,” he said in a brief statement today. 

Isham is currently an ordinary party member after he was stripped of his position as Selangor BN information chief effective June 3.

He had posted on Facebook on June 8 claiming that based on a letter issued by Selangor BN secretary Datuk Mohamad Satim Diman, his position was terminated as it was never enshrined under the coalition’s constitution.

His invitation comes just two days after senior Umno lawmaker Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman was removed as a supreme council member. 

According to a leaked letter sent by Ahmad, Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi ended Tajuddin’s tenure as an appointed member of the supreme council, but did not elaborate on the reason. 

Tajuddin had contested and lost the party vice-presidency during its internal election in 2018, before being one of 14 members to be co-opted into Umno’s highest decision-making body. 

Pasir Salak MP’s removal as supreme council member comes less than a year after he was stripped of his position as Umno election direction, after a rumoured falling out with Zahid.

His fate as a lawmaker also hangs in the balance, with his name being among several incumbents tipped to be dropped for the next general election. 

Separately, Tajuddin was also removed as Prasarana Malaysia Bhd non-executive chairman in May last year, after his disastrous handling of the light rail transit collision.

Meanwhile, Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Puad Zarkashi told The Vibes that he is expecting Tajuddin’s removal to be addressed by Zahid tonight. 

However, he dismissed notions that Tajuddin’s dismissal has anything to do with him being a vocal critic of Zahid.  

“I am just like Tajuddin, and like him, I have also been very vocal against the president during our meetings, when it comes to party matters. There’s no issue.”

This runs contrary to Zahid’s remark earlier today when he confirmed that Tajuddin was dropped due to his critical attitude towards Umno, reminding that while differing opinions are allowed, decisions finalised by the party’s leadership must be complied with.

“You have to ask him what statements he had made, whether in ceramahs (talks) or closed-door meetings. Ask him yourself,” Zahid reportedly told the press when asked to comment on the decision. – The Vibes, June 24, 2022