KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (Pasir Salak-BN) appears to have snickered at his recent suspension from Umno, as he commented publicly on the disciplinary action taken against him for the first time.
The senior politician touched on the matter briefly in the Dewan Rakyat when prompted by another lawmaker on whether he would still contest in the coming election.
This is after he told the Lower House to give him some time to deliver his question to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed (Jeli-Bersatu) on issues concerning the country’s economy.
Tajuddin was asked by an unidentified fellow member of the House to get to the point after the former dragged on when asking his question.
“Wait-lah, election is near, let me campaign for a bit,” he responded in jest.
A lawmaker was then heard asking him over the microphone if he would be nominated by his party, ostensibly referring to news reports of his suspension from Umno.
To this, he said: “There’s no problem there, I am still with Umno, no problem. I am only suspended (digantung), not ‘gantung sampai mati’ (hanged to death). What’s the problem?
“If you want to hang, hang to death, then okay. If I don’t die, I may come back to life (Kalau nak gantung, gantung bagi mati, okay. Kalau tak mati, takut nanti dia hidup balik).”
Last Saturday, The Vibes quoted sources as saying that Tajuddin, a former Umno Supreme Council member has been suspended as a party member effective immediately, largely due to his criticism against party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
While there has been no confirmation on the duration of the suspension, it is rumoured to last six years, meaning Tajuddin might miss out on the next two general elections.
The decision to suspend Tajuddin was reached during the Supreme Council meeting on Friday night, but was not formally listed in a statement issued by Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.
Along with Tajuddin, Alor Star division chief Datuk Mohd Yusof Ismail was also suspended for similar reasons. – The Vibes, October 3, 2022
