Call for Tajol Rosli’s exit - The STAR

IPOH: April 15 2008 by Hah Foong Lian

Calls for a leadership change in Umno took a step further in Perak, with Datuk Seri Mohamad Tajol Rosli Ghazali being urged to resign as state Umno chief.

Kampar Umno division chief Datuk Mohd Radzi Manan said the call was raised during a meeting between state Umno leaders and the party’s management committee.

The closed-door meeting, chaired by Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, was held at Perak Umno headquarters here yesterday.

Among the central leaders who attended the event were deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, vice-presidents Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib, Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Wanita chief Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz.

Radzi said Tajol Rosli had failed to give the state any direction since Barisan Nasional suffered huge losses during the March 8 polls.

“Until today, he has not given any signal on what needs to be done or issued any statements on the direction of the party in the state,” said Radzi, the former Tualang Sekah assemblyman.

“Our leaders must be forward-looking, be able to unite everyone and have the ability to move the state machinery,” added Radzi.

It was learnt that members also questioned the way certain individuals were picked as candidates for the elections.

Radzi said the general mood was for a transition in leadership, starting with Perak and then the central level.

“The people, and Umno members in particular, are waiting for changes to be made by the central leadership,” he said.

Radzi said many people had accepted the declaration that Najib would replace party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

“The question now is when and how,” he said.

“The groundswell is within Umno itself. We hope the central leadership will not ignore this. If not, Umno will become irrelevant.”