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KUALA LUMPUR – Embattled Umno lawmaker Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman has reiterated his support for party vice-president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to remain as prime minister should Barisan Nasional (BN) win the general election.
Tajuddin, who is Pasir Salak MP, expressed his bafflement over claims that Ismail Sabri is not fit to be prime minister.
“He has not made any mistakes but there are allegations that he is not fit to be prime minister. He has done a lot of things to lessen the burden of the people during his first year as PM,” he was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times after the Jelajah Aspirasi Keluarga Malaysia event in his constituency.
The prime minister was also present at the same event.
Tajuddin was also reported as saying that he is able to gather thousands of people to “continue to fight”.
“Don’t play with me. I can gather thousands of people, as seen in the Melayu Bangkit and Anti-Icerd (International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination) rallies. That’s my job. We will continue to fight.”
Ismail Sabri earlier drew flak after it was revealed that Tajuddin was appointed ambassador to Indonesia.
Yesterday, the prime minister reiterated his support for Tajuddin’s appointment, saying it was approved by the cabinet and received the consent of Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
“He (Tajuddin) was supposed to be officially appointed the other day but it has been postponed since the Agong is not feeling well.
“Pushing for the appointment to be withdrawn would mean going against and challenging His Majesty’s powers,” he told reporters after officiating the Malaysian Trades Union Congress’ 42nd triennial delegates’ conference here yesterday.
Following his removal from the Umno Supreme Council last month, Tajuddin had dropped several revelations, including being a “living witness” to statutory declarations signed by Umno lawmakers, including president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, in support of opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister.
He added that Zahid pressured him to sign the document, adding that the “No DAP, No Anwar” mantra championed by the party chief is proven to be an open lie to Umno members.
His second bombshell was about the alleged internal movement to remove Zahid as party boss, led by party deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan who colluded with Najib to organise a meeting in May 2020.
Tajuddin claimed the movement involved 130 out of 191 division chiefs who wanted Zahid to step down from his position in 2020.
The lawmaker has been often criticised for his disastrous handling of the Light Rail Transit collision in May last year.