He said it was difficult for Umno veterans to accept that Dr Mahathir was willing to sacrifice his dignity to conspire with parties who had been his political foes.
Speaking at a gathering of Perak Umno veterans, he said their love and respect for Mahathir had been shattered. “With a very heavy feeling in my heart, I utter this statement ‘Sorry sir, it’s not that we love you less, but we love Umno much more’,” he said.
About 1,000 Perak Umno veterans attended the gathering at the official residence of the Perak menteri besar. They declared their undivided support and loyalty to Najib Razak as prime minister and Umno president.
Perak Umno chairman Zambry Abd Kadir, who is menteri besar, and Perak veterans’ chairman Abdul Khalid Mohd Nasir were both present.
Mohd Tajol said Umno veterans were concerned that the attacks on Najib could result in the collapse of Umno.
“Out of concern, Umno veterans took the initiative to hold this assembly to try to unravel the confusion arising from the attempts by Mahathir to oust Najib via an approach which is clearly undemocratic.
“Regardless of his rights as a citizen, our rights as members of Umno who love the party, should not be used as a political pawn to satisfy the political whim of any party whose ‘drum and dance’ are no longer in tune with the soul and spirit of Umno,” he said.
Although the style of leadership may change according to the season, Umno’s continuity must be defended by all means.
He said that he had also gone through some bitter tests during Mahathir’s 22 years as Umno leader, but Umno members had remained faithful and obedient to the leader. Tajol Rosli was Perak menteri besar from 1999 to 2008
“At that time, the veterans also suffered several worrying moments and events including a very intense power struggle in 1987 and a bitter episode when Umno was banned.
“The economic recession and a debilitating financial crisis in 1997, political crisis as a result of the removal of Anwar Ibrahim from Umno and also Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister,” he said.
The nature of loyalty to the leadership and willingness to serve the common interest, had saved Umno and ensured the continuity of the party, he said.
However, he believed that veterans knew the pros and cons of Mahathir’s action as they had been together with him when he headed Umno for 22 years.
Zambry expressed his appreciation to the Umno veterans for their support of the party when it was going through a test.
In George Town, Penang, Malaysia Umno Veterans secretary-general Mustapha Yaakub said Dr Mahathir should stop attacking national leaders especially the Umno leadership because it would only be a loss to Malays and the party.
He said the veterans group opposed any effort to oust Najib, undemocratically and that 800,000 Umno veterans would continue to defend the party from being destroyed.
— BERNAMA