Umno will not suspend Zahid, Najib

SM Amin SM Amin Updated 5 years ago · Published on 19 Oct 2018 7:00AM · 5 Comments

Umno says the charges brought against Najib Razak and Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (left) are politically motivated. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, October 19, 2018.

UMNO will not suspend Najib Razak and Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as the action of the current administration against them appears to be politically motivated, said a member of the party’s Supreme Council, Tajuddin Abdul Rahman. 

Tajuddin said the charges against Najib, Umno’s past president and current president Zahid, were not the same as those faced by some party members who were previously suspended after being charged in court.

The difference, he said, was that the charges against the other party members were not politically motivated.

“The Umno Supreme Council had taken into consideration that many of these allegations against Najib and Zahid have political elements,” Tajuddin told The Malaysian Insight.

“The charges are simply to put pressure on the party and weaken it. That is why we made the decision to defend our leaders till the end.”

Tajuddin, however, said if the two were found guilty, they would be forced to quit the party.

Najib was slapped with 32 charges of criminal breach of trust, abuse of power, corruption and money laundering. All the charges are related to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal and its former subsidiary, SRC International Sdn Bhd.

Zahid was arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) yesterday and is expected to be charged at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court this morning for various offences under the MACC Act 2009 and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

The charges are believed to be related to a family-run charitable foundation, Yayasan Akal Budi, which he chairs. It was reported that he was investigated over claims that RM800,000 from the foundation was used to pay off his and his wife’s credit card bills.

Umno Supreme Council member Tajuddin Abdul Rahman says Pakatan Harapan also stood by its leader Anwar Ibrahim when he was charged and jailed. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, October 19, 2018.

Calls to suspend Najib and Zahid have been made by some Umno leaders in Johor, who urged the party to be consistent in their action against its members and suspend their memberships after they were charged.

They cited action taken by Umno to suspend former Mersing division deputy branch leader Abd Latif Bandi, who had been charged with alleged abuse of power.

Tajuddin, however, said there was no question about inconsistencies since the current political scene had changed.

“They can say the decisions are inconsistent if the (political) environment was still the same, but it is not.”

Tajuddin said Umno’s current actions were no different from what Pakatan Harapan did when it was the opposition, referring to PKR president-elect Anwar Ibrahim.

“Anwar was found guilty and imprisoned, but they still defended him and accepted him as their de facto leader. 

“So, it is not wrong if Umno also defends its leaders who have not been found guilty.” – October 19, 2018.

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Comments

  • Most people who believe this Tajuddin is probably stupid.

    Posted 5 years ago by Will Be Humble · Reply

  • If UMNO wants to move on, it must close the corruption chapter. Dragging on will only benefits Pakatan.

    Posted 5 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • politically-driven? another dungu talking.

    Posted 5 years ago by Wen Chiuan Woo · Reply

  • Not Reform-minded?

    Posted 5 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • The Umno leaders in Johore should also call for corrupted leaders to be suspended. Start with this retard Tajudin as he is purposely making the statement to indirectly protect himself when his turn to be hauled. He is trying to stirr up and use Umno members as vanguard for himself and all the corrupted war lords. Umno can only revive itself if all the warlords and their current batch of bangang leaders are chased out of the party.

    Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply