In tell-all, Tajuddin reveals plots, back-stabbing in Umno

Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, who was recently sacked as a member of Umno’s Supreme Council, today revealed that there had been efforts in May 2020 by party strongmen Mohamad Hasan and Najib Razak to topple their president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The Pasir Salak MP said a closed-door meeting involving the top Umno leadership was held at his house during this time.

“Actually, Zahid had long been seen as unfit,” he said at a press conference in Petaling Jaya, Selangor today. “Maybe he could have held out for five or six months.

“We had a meeting, and the conclusion was that it would be better for him to step down with dignity.

“Tok Mat sat there,” he added, referring to Mohamad, “Najib sat there and Khaled Nordin sat here.”

However, he said the efforts came to an end when Mohamad, the Umno deputy president, made a U-turn after being intimidated by Zahid’s camp.

After that, he said, Mohamad would no longer admit his involvement in the matter.

He said Najib, too, had abandoned the efforts after being nominated as Barisan Nasional chairman.

At the meeting, he said, a proposal was made for a memorandum urging Zahid to step down.

He said he was tasked with conducting a survey and gathering the division heads who agreed to the memorandum.

According to Tajuddin, about 130 division leaders agreed with the suggestion.

At the press conference today, he also displayed pictures of the discussions at his house.

Given that the movement had failed, he said, the Umno division chiefs were assessing who could potentially lead the party before deciding on who to support as their president.

He also urged Zahid to step down honourably and allow Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to lead the party instead.