TAJUDDIN Abdul Rahman was dropped as an Umno Supreme Council member for his criticism of the party, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today. 

Zahid did not elaborate on the criticism and told reporters to ask the Pasir Salak MP himself.

“You have to ask him himself what statements he made, what speeches, what ceramah or what kinds of things he said behind closed doors,” Zahid said, as quoted by Free Malaysia Today.

Zahid’s remarks today confirm a letter addressed to Tajuddin from Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan, which was circulated on social media last night.

The letter informs Tajuddin of his removal from the Umno Supreme Council and thanks him for his service.

Tajuddin, who was recently appointed ambassador to Indonesia, has been seen as supportive of Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Although Ismail is from Umno, his party has been pressuring him to call general elections soon rather than complete the government’s full term, which expires next year.

Tajuddin was appointed to the council by the president in July 2018.

The same year, he had tried but failed in party polls to become a vice-president.

Often slammed by the opposition and civil society for his uncouth speech and sexist remarks in Parliament, he had also been Umno’s elections director but for a few months, from November 2020 to July 2021, when the portfolio was taken over by Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan. – June 24, 2022.