Tajuddin: I have no problem with Zahid, but you'll have to ask him about me

 

Despite being abruptly removed from key posts in Umno, Tajuddin Abdul Rahman said he had no problem with party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

In fact, the Pasir Salak MP said he accepted the decision made by the Umno president with an open heart, but he could not confirm if his removal was due to him involved in a problem with Zahid.

"I don't have a problem with the president, (but) if the president has a problem with me, I don't know. If you want to know, you have to ask the president," Tajuddin said when contacted by Malaysiakini.

Tajuddin, who has recently been critical of Zahid, was yesterday removed as Umno's election director, with immediate effect and replaced by Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan.

While announcing the change of post, Zahid said the restructuring of the party structure was done to strengthen the party at all levels.

Tajuddin told the media that he had not been informed of the move directly but only found out about his removal when his son-in-law read about it online and informed him.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi

He said he was confident that Mohamad would be able to shoulder his responsibilities as the election director well to enable the party machinery to move effectively.

"I don't feel angry or upset, I'm just happy.

"I have a lot of other work to do. (When) the job was taken from me, I feel relieved," he said.

Asked whether his dismissal as election director was made after an audio leak of him speaking was spread yesterday, Tajuddin has he didn't think it had anything to do with his dismissal but considered it just a coincidence.

"Don't think about things that are non-existent," he added.

The voice recording linked to Tajuddin was purportedly from an Umno supreme council meeting protesting the party's decision to withdraw support for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

In the viral audio recording, Tajuddin said now was not the right time for Umno to attract support and he was worried that the decision would damage the party.

Tajuddin also said Umno was in a state of unpreparedness if the general election took place in the near future and the PN government collapsed.

According to Tajuddin, during his tenure as the Umno election director, he gave his services sincerely for the party.

"I don't care (about being removed), I didn't lose anything.

"I served sincerely because of the party. I did work before using my own money, I did the ummah unification (with PAS) gathering using my own money. I sacrificed for the party.

"Mohamad has taken over, that's good. He is the deputy president, there is no problem. I hope he can help the machinery," he added.

Less than two months ago, Tajuddin was removed as chairperson of Prasarana Malaysia Bhd following an accident on the Kelana Jaya LRT line, when two trains collided. Hundreds of the passengers were injured, six of them critically.

His dismissal came after an off-colour press conference in which he had described the crash as “normal” and “two cars kissing”, while appearing to laugh. - Mkini