The Malaysian Insight

MUHYIDDIN Yassin is welcome to return to Umno but there is no guarantee he will be president because that is the party members’ decision to make, said Tajuddin Abdul Rahman.

 The Umno Supreme Council said he was open to the idea of former party members returning to the fold.

 “I have made a statement before calling on Muhyiddin Yassin to return to Umno,” he said.

“However, the question of the Umno presidency is up to the members to decide. It is not something that can be determined by one or two individuals. Who should be the president? This person is not necessarily the right person,” Tajuddin told reporters, in George Town, today.

Tajuddin said no party leader could expect to hold on to his position forever, and that the leadership changes with every party elections.

“No one stays permanently in office, it all depends on the party members. 

“If Muhyiddin has the support of Umno members to be president, he will be president. If (party president) Ahmad Zahid Hamidi still has support, he will continue to be president.

Tajuddin said even he himself could be the president if he has support.

“I could be (president) if I have support. But so far there is no support,” he joked.

Tajuddin was asked to comment on deputy party president Mohamad Hasan’s statement that Umno could retract its sacking of Muhyiddin if the prime minister wished to return to the party.

According to Mohamad, Muhyiddin’s return would gain him the backing of a strong party that has many elected representatives in parliament.

 “If there is a desire to return to the party, we can change our decision to dismiss him. He is welcome if he wants to return to Umno; it will be easier (for Muhyiddin in parliament), ”he said.

Muhyiddin, who is Bersatu president, was sacked from Umno in 2016 for his vocal condemnation of the 1Malaysian Development Bhd scandal.

Prior to Mohamad’s statement yesterday, several Umno leaders had also asked Muhyiddin to return to the party. – July 26, 2020.

 

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