[UPDATED] I’m a living witness to Umno SDs supporting Anwar: Tajuddin drops bombshell

PETALING JAYA – Embattled Umno MP Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman dropped a bombshell today, revealing that he is a “living witness” to statutory declarations (SD) signed last year supporting opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister.

Taking a swipe at Umno’s stance on “No DAP, No Anwar”, Tajuddin said: “I’m a living witness. I didn’t want to sign it at first, but I was urged to.”

“There was indeed an SD signed (by Umno lawmakers) to pledge full support for Anwar to be the prime minister. There was a letter sent to Istana Negara. I refused to sign, I didn’t want to.

“But in the end, when the situation turned sour, I had to sign it too.

“After that, they kept saying ‘No DAP, No Anwar’. Those are all lies. They were lying to those who didn’t know. Pity the members who didn’t know. 

“We had to respect the president, right? We couldn’t reject the president,” he said without naming names, most likely referring to Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Although there were not enough MPs who signed the SDs to back Anwar as prime minister, he disclosed that several top leaders in the party – Zahid and Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz – signed on.

“I don’t remember how many MPs signed the SD, but there weren’t enough. He (Anwar) wrote to the Agong saying that he had enough support and had the backing of Umno for him to be prime minister right?

“I’m not sure if (Datuk Seri) Hishammuddin (Hussein) and KJ (Khairy Jamaluddin) signed it or not, but I can tell you that Zahid signed the SD, as did Nazri Aziz.”

The turn of events involving the SDs in support of Anwar took place after the fall of the Pakatan Harapan administration in 2020.

Meanwhile, Tajuddin told a press conference at Eastin Hotel here that he was the one who convinced then prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to appoint a deputy prime minister from Umno.

“I told him to give the deputy PM position to Umno. Let Umno ‘seronok sikit’ (have a bit of fun), and not feel like we’re being used.”

After Muhyiddin resigned as prime minister, Tajuddin said the Bersatu man had agreed to support Ismail Sabri and even PAS was ready to support him. 

“Umno was split. Fifteen people under Zahid and ‘bossku’ refused to sign until the last minute. Don't they dare deny it,” he said, referring to Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s popular moniker.

“They refused to sign the SDs until His Majesty asked all MPs to let him know who they support. So the president ‘kantoi’ (was caught out). He wanted to submit several names. Like his own name and Tengku Razaleigh (Hamzah). As the president, he should have followed the consensus.”

On the looming general election, he said that now that Umno has a prime minister, the party’s goal is to retake the government. 

“Luckily, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri (Yaakob) became prime minister. What else do they want? Why all the ruckus about GE15? It wasn’t easy to retake the prime ministership and ministerial positions.

“I can guarantee that they’re not happy because Datuk Seri Zahid wasn’t happy that he didn't get the position. Not for the party. He himself wanted to return to power. If he’s back in power, then he can resolve his ongoing (court) cases.”

He gave some advice to Zahid, saying the party president should focus on his ongoing cases, rather than positions in power. 

“There are many cases. He doesn’t have the capability to care about others. It’s better (for him) to focus on his personal problems. Don’t burden Umno with his personal problems.”

For Tajuddin, it has been a long time since Zahid had the ability to lead the party. 

“He lasted around five to six months, and then we had a gathering with some top leaders, including ‘bossku’. We concluded that it’s better for him to step down.” – The Vibes, June 27, 2022

Additional reporting by Nicole Ng