Tajuddin’s return a strategic move for Umno’s political survival – Analyst

Tajuddin’s return a strategic move for Umno’s political survival – Analyst

SHAH ALAM – Former Pasir Salak Member of Parliament (MP) Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman’s reinstatement into Umno reflects the party’s deep-rooted political warlord culture, with his return seen as strategically timed ahead of 16th General Election (GE16).

Pacific Research Centre of Malaysia principal adviser Dr Oh Ei Sun suggested that Tajuddin was a good poster boy for Umno’s famous political warlord culture, which had effectively garnered votes in past elections through his influence in various constituencies.

“With the upcoming GE in mind, reinstating Tajuddin makes strategic sense to appease other influential figures within the party, ensuring their continued loyalty and electoral support.

“While Tajuddin enjoys significant grassroots backing, his influence is mainly limited to his constituency, posing no real threat to Umno’s central leadership, making his reinstatement a politically safe and potentially beneficial move,” he said.

In contrast, when comparing Tajuddin’s reinstatement with the ongoing suspension of other prominent figures like Sembrong MP Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Oh highlighted that Hishammuddin has long been viewed as Umno’s version of a ‘papabile.

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“Hishammuddin is seen as a figure with the potential to challenge Umno President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s control over the party’s leadership.

“Reinstating him would, therefore, be a politically risky move, as it could pave the way for a powerful political comeback,” Oh added.

Additionally, when asked about Tajuddin’s reinstatement and whether it could mark the beginning of a broader reconciliation strategy within Umno, including the return of expelled members like former Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin (KJ), Oh believes the party would proceed with caution.

He pointed out that Umno would likely assess the electoral value of these individuals while considering the potential challenge they could pose to Zahid’s leadership.

Meanwhile, International Islamic University Malaysia political science associate professor Dr Syaza Shukri believed that one of the key reasons Umno decided to revoke Tajuddin’s suspension at the time was his persistent requests to appeal the decision.

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“Umno seems to be working towards unity and progress by blending both new and familiar faces, as they have promised to do in preparation for GE16.

“This approach appears to be part of their strategy for continuity,” she said.

Syaza also pointed out a key difference between the cases of Tajuddin and Hishammuddin, noting that Tajuddin’s suspension was imposed before GE15, mainly due to his criticism of the election timing.

In contrast, Syaza added that Hishammuddin and others were suspended for their actions during and after GE15, which had a more significant negative impact on the party’s role in the Unity Government.

“I believe Umno would be open to lifting Hishammuddin’s suspension if he files an appeal, though I am not aware of any such development. As for KJ, the situation is more complex since his expulsion was final. He may need to demonstrate his loyalty to the party before they can consider reinstating him.

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“As I mentioned, I believe it is about maintaining the party’s continuity. They do not want to appear as an entirely new entity because their core supporters are still from the older generation.

“However, they also need fresh faces to appeal to younger voters. Ultimately, it is a strategy to keep the party relevant,” she emphasised.

Yesterday, the Umno Supreme Council revoked the suspension of Tajuddin, restoring his membership in the party with immediate effect.

Umno Secretary-General Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki mentioned that the decision was made unanimously, citing Articles 10.6 and 5.3 of the party’s constitution.

“The Supreme Council unanimously decided to lift and revoke the suspension of Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman’s membership in Umno, effective immediately,” he said.

Tajuddin had been suspended for six years since Sept 2022 for criticising the party and had submitted four appeals without receiving feedback.