Umno veterans back Tajuddin, urge party to give him second chance

The Umno Veterans’ Club has expressed unwavering support for Tajuddin Abdul Rahman and has asked the party to consider shortening his suspension.

In a statement, club secretary Mustapha Yaakub highlighted Tajuddin’s loyalty and dedication to Umno despite his current predicament.

“He has never wavered, even after four appeals. He remains steadfast to Umno. Umno is his family.

“He has never sought refuge in other parties. This is why we stand by him, urging the party’s supreme council to grant him a second chance,” he expressed.

Tajuddin (above), the former Pasir Salak MP, was suspended for six years in October 2022.

His suspension was reportedly linked to his public criticism of party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Before his suspension, Tajuddin was ousted from the supreme council in June of the same year, allegedly for labelling Zahid a “liability” and calling for the latter’s resignation.

Yesterday, Tajuddin told Malaysiakini that even though he hasn’t received answers on his fate at the party, he remained optimistic that his membership would be reactivated.

His remarks came after Umno supreme council member Jalaluddin Alias said in May that the party is ready to welcome back leaders and members who were ousted after the last general election.

A month after the November 2022 general election, Tajuddin had his membership suspended.

Among the top leaders whose memberships were terminated are former ministers Khairy Jamaluddin, Noh Omar, and former supreme council member Isham Jalil.

Former minister Hishammuddin Hussein and ex-information chief Shahril Sufian Hamdan were suspended.

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