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KUALA LUMPUR – After Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman’s removal from the Umno Supreme Council days ago, more names are on the “enemy’s list” and will soon be given the boot.
Ketereh Umno chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa has cautioned that more removals are expected as a few more names have been branded as “political enemies”.
He added that although the removal of Supreme Council members is at the discretion of the party president, it rarely happens and only brings crisis and discord to the party.
“Under Tun M, there were ministers, deputy ministers and Supreme Council members who openly opposed him, but no one was dropped just because they were not supporting the president,” Annuar said in a Facebook post last night, referring to former Umno president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“The political wheel keeps spinning…”
He also cautioned that sacking Supreme Council members before their term ends goes against the spirit and resolutions made at the party’s general assembly.
Annuar himself was sacked as secretary-general for Barisan Nasional and Muafakat Nasional in early January last year.
Some Umno leaders and warlords had outright told Annuar to leave Umno and join Bersatu after he remained adamant in defending the then Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration.
Tajuddin’s removal as a Supreme Council member comes less than a year after he was stripped of his position as Umno election director, after a rumoured falling out with party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
However, Supreme Council member Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi dismissed notions that Tajuddin’s dismissal had anything to do with him being a vocal critic of Zahid.
“The important basis is that it is right to remove whoever who does not follow the party (leadership). So, the question on whether there would be more (to be dropped) from the council does not arise as if everyone follows the party (leadership), there will be no problems,” he told reporters after leaving the Supreme Council meeting just after 10pm last night.
This runs contrary to Zahid’s remark yesterday 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.
Meanwhile, Isham Jalil who was stripped of his Selangor Barisan Nasional information chief post on June 3 was sworn in last night to replace Tajuddin on the council.
“We need a person with brains and who will be accepted by the public,” Puad said on Isham’s entry into the council. – The Vibes, June 25, 2022