Suspended UMNO Supreme Councillor Tajuddin seeks reinstatement as party talks second chances

KUALA LUMPUR, June 7 — Long-time Umno member Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman is appealing to be reinstated to the party’s Supreme Council after being suspended for six years in October 2022 for criticising the current leadership under Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The former Pasir Salak MP told the news portal Malaysiakini that he is committed to the party and wants to participate actively again.

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“I really hope that my ban will be lifted so that I can become an active member again.

“I am loyal to the party, I love the party and my whole family is in UMNO. We want to be in UMNO. But whether the leadership wants that or not is their business,” he was quoted as saying in an interview published today.

Tajuddin’s appointment follows recent comments by Negeri Sembilan Umno chairman Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias ​​that the party was considering giving its suspended or sacked dissident members a second chance to join its ranks, claiming many had regretted their opinions.

The 76-year-old Tajuddin’s previous attempt to lift his suspension was rejected by the party leadership in early 2023.

UMNO’s then information chief Isham Jalil said Tajuddin’s disciplinary violation was too serious to ignore.

Isham was dismissed from UMNO last December.

But Tajuddin does not seem to have given up, even though he admitted that participating in UMNO’s election campaign activities during his suspension was uncomfortable for him and a potential embarrassment for both himself and the party.

“I really enjoy campaigning. The problem is that my membership is suspended and it is difficult to campaign.

“It’s embarrassing for UMNO and for me too. People will say that UMNO has no one else to campaign for.”

“Maybe UMNO doesn’t like me anymore… that’s my fate,” he said Malaysiakini.