Ku Li 'trolled' by Zahid, Tajuddin says

PETALING JAYA – Pasir Salak MP Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abd Rahman claimed Umno Advisor Body Chaiman Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah was ‘trolled’ by Umno President, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi after the party released the name list of the Prime Minister candidate to the Istana Negara, last year.

The Umno Supreme Council former member stated that after the resignation of former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin last August following the drop of support by 15 Umno MPs, Zahid through the party’s Supreme Council was claimed to have nominated himself, Tengku Razaleigh and Umno Vice President Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob as the ninth Prime Minister candidates.

He said Zahid’s decision as the party leader was made after Yang di-Pertuan Agong commanded all MPs to present the list of new candidates to Istana Negara to fill up the Prime Minister position to replace Muhyiddin.

However, Tajuddin did not explain how Tengku Razaleigh or Ku Li ‘was trolled’ by Ahmad Zahid upon the revelation of Gua Musang MP name as one of the Prime Minister candidates from Umno.

“After Yang di-Pertuan Agong requested every MPs to submit the candidates’ names as the Prime Minister of their choice to His Majesty, Zahid through the Umno Supreme Council listed Tengku Razaleigh, himself and Ismail Sabri as the Prime Minister candidates to be presented to the Agong.

“But the truth is, even Zahid himself wanted the Prime Minister position, until even Ku Li was also trolled by him,” he claimed during a press conference at the hotel on Monday.

On August 18, 2021, Umno secretary-general, Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan revealed only Ismail Sabri was nominated as the ninth Prime Minister candidate of Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN).

The Pontian MP said the decision was made after it was supported by Zahid, Umno Vice President Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Pekan MP Datuk Seri Najib Razak and members of Umno Supreme Council.

Earlier, a meeting was held at Dato’ Onn Tower between BN MPs to decide the Prime Minister candidates to be submitted to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.

Ismail Sabri was then appointed as the Prime Minister after he acquired 115 supports from MPs, which included Perikatan Nasional (PN), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and several independent MPs.

Moreover, Tajuddin also slammed 15 MPs led by Zahid who pulled their support from Muhyiddin who at first refused to support to Ismail Sabri as the new Prime Minister from Umno-BN.

He then explained that the refusal of the 15 MPs to support Ismail Sabri was seen even before that, as there were no warm congratulations to the Bera MP from Zahid and several members of Supreme Council after his appointment as the deputy prime minister.

“Not long after, Muhyiddin resigned as the Prime Minister due to the 15 Umno MPs, our effort in appointing Ismail Sabri as the Prime Minister also has a story lies behind... it didn’t just end there.

“After nominating Ismail Sabri as the new Prime Minister, Muhyiddin and Pas also agreed in signing the statutory declarations (SD) to show support for him.

“However, Umno was split at that time. There were members who agreed and disagree. The 15 Umno MPs also pulled their support (from Muhyiddin), until the end they didn’t sign (SD supporting Ismail Sabri)... Do not let them deny that,” he said.