No need for Zahid to lure PM as ‘poster boy’ for GE15

PETALING JAYA – Former Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahwan, who was removed from his position slammed the council for electing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri as Barisan Nasional (BN)’s ‘poster boy’ in the upcoming 15th General Election (GE15).

The Pasir Salak MP said there was no need for Umno President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to exert the party’s Supreme Council to lure Ismail Sabri, who was also the Vice President of the party, only for GE15 to be held as soon as possible.

Tajuddin had also claimed that the tactic of using Ismail Sabri as the ‘poster boy’ or the party’s future candidate as Prime Minister in GE15, was a part of Zahid’s efforts to be the Prime Minister instantly.

“No need to lure the Prime Minister to be UMNO-BN’s ‘poster boy’ for the election.

“In fact, the offer was made to rush Ismail Sabri to hold the election.

“Zahid’s intention is no other than to allow him to be the next Prime Minister,” he said in a press conference today.

He had made the statement to explain why he was removed from the supreme council position last Wednesday.

The decision was made by Zahid as Tajuddin was said to have made several statements that clashed with the party’s decision.

Umno Secretary-General Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan later explained the reason Tajuddin was fired and replaced him with the former BN Selangor information chief Isham Jalil was to let the veteran party leader focus on his current position as Malaysia Ambassador to Indonesia.

On the other hand, Tajuddin also said that Zahid had a head start on his movement to arrange the election candidates that were considered on ‘his side’ as the GE15 was around the corner.

Tajuddin addressed the movement, saying that it was a part of Zahid’s plan to offer himself as the Prime Minister once UMNO-BN achieved victory in the upcoming general election.

“Moreover, in my region, Pasir Salak, Zahid already had certain people to compete there. I don’t mind as I have spent four terms as the representative there.

“Plus, Zahid also has warned Umno leaders not to make any statement (to criticise the party) at this moment.

“This happened because as BN’s Chairman, he has the privileged to sign the appointment letter of GE candidates and if Umno party leaders object, there are possibilities of not being nominated in the future,” he said.

Tajuddin added he was not afraid of being fired from Umno once if his action in exposing Zahid’s actions backfired.

He recollected the memory of being dismissed by the former deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in 1995, where the leader himself had to pay a bigger deed in the end.

“I was fired by Anwar in 1995 for the reason of opposing the former Menteri Besar Perak.

“However, I was later accepted as a member, but Anwar was being dismissed from his position as the Deputy Prime Minister and his Umno’s membership.

“Now we’ll see, if I was fired, then he (Zahid) will be jailed,” he said with a smile.