KUALA LUMPUR – Umno Supreme Council members have brushed off any notion that the party is heading into a crisis following the dismissal of Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman from its top decision-making body.
This is after Ketereh MP and Umno division chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa warned of further internal bickering and the possibility of more members being shown the door for speaking out against the leadership.
Speaking to The Vibes, supreme council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said only members who are insecure of their own positions would believe that Umno is in troubled waters.
“There is no crisis, unless those who are feeling unsafe,” he said.
Pressed on Annuar’s suggestion that more Umno leaders could be facing the axe, Shabery, who is a senior politician with multiple previous ministerial posts, replied sarcastically that the former appears to know more than anyone else.
“I think Annuar knows literally everything. He is privier of what he meant,” he said.
In a Facebook post yesterday evening, Annuar had warned of a crisis ensuing from Tajuddin’s dismissal from the supreme council, describing his removal as being against the spirit and resolution agreed upon during Umno’s recent general assembly.
He said while the party president has the prerogative to sack any appointed members, it does not bring any good.
“I understand more names have been labelled as political enemies and are set to be fired. The political wheel keeps spinning,” he said.
Based on a letter dated June 21 submitted to Tajuddin by Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had decided to end the former’s tenure as an appointed Supreme Council member.
Zahid was later reported to have said that Tajuddin’s removal was due to his critical attitude towards Umno.
Fellow appointed supreme council member Datuk Arman Azha Abu Hanifah similarly dismissed suggestions that Umno is in crisis, pointing out that it’s meeting yesterday was carried out in a peaceful manner.
“The supreme council discussed about the party’s direction ahead of the general election, and we are consistent in our stand to have Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri remain as Barisan Nasional’s poster boy,” he said.
Arman Azha said while there are bound to be differences in opinion within Umno’s ranks, these will not necessarily lead to a fractious party.
“Our party is now more open to accepting dissenting views and criticisms, as long as they are meant to ensure Umno’s strengthening, and not to weaken us.”
Asked if Annuar’s statement is an indication that he is worried of his own fate as an election candidate, Arman Azha said the party’s top leadership will decide on who they believe are winnable candidates.
Annuar is a veteran Umno politician and is a three-term parliamentarian.
He was also assemblyman for two terms in 1986 and 2004, and has served in multiple portfolios in the cabinet.
Currently he is serving as the communications and multimedia minister. – The Vibes, June 25, 2022
