PETALING JAYA – Should the embattled former Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman be sacked from his party, the three-term Pasir Salak MP is ready to defend his seat as an independent candidate.
He said it is a walk in the park for him to contest without party backing as support for him in his constituency has remained strong despite the political “tsunami”.
“If Umno wishes to play rough, I can do the same by contesting as an independent candidate.
“During the (political) tsunami, support for me has gone up with a huge majority. I have never lost,” he said during a press conference at the Eastin Hotel here this afternoon.
The Umno lawmaker, donning a red batik shirt, was accompanied by supporters from Pasir Salak.
He then jokingly said he will consider PAS’ invite to contest under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) banner.
“It’s not a bad idea,” he laughed.
“But I will not join PAS. I can contest as an independent candidate, but aligned with Umno. Not a problem.”
Despite being dismissed from the Umno Supreme Council, the veteran politician expressed that he still has love for the party he has been with for 50 years.
“It’s impossible to say I don’t sayang (love) Umno anymore, I have been with this party for 50 years. This is the place I grew up in, from merely a kampung boy to where I am now.”
On Saturday, Perak PAS extended an invitation for Tajuddin to defend Pasir Salak under the PN ticket in the 15th general election.
State PAS commissioner Razman Zakaria said this is a possibility if Tajuddin is not offered the chance to contest the seat by Barisan Nasional in GE15 and if PAS is allocated the constituency among PN parties. – The Vibes, June 27, 2022
