KUALA LUMPUR: Umno’s 72nd year anniversary celebrations at the Putra World Trade Centre was marred due to a shouting match which erupted between a group claiming to be a Federal Territory Umno Youth faction and a number of party members.
The group, represented by a Muhammad Taqiuddin Halim, who claimed to be a youth committee member of Seputeh Umno came to a head with Umno Pulai member Mohd Faisal, after the former made a public statement demanding that old party members step down from the party after its shocking defeat in the 14th General Election (GE14).
Mohd Faisal intervened and pulled Taqiuddin aside.
The shouting match started at the entrance of Menara Dato Onn and ended at Dewan Merdeka in Dewan Tun Razak in full view of other party members.
Taqiuddin’s supporters were also aggressively shoved back in the process.
This has prompted several auxiliary policemen and party members to step in to pacify both sides.
Taqiuddin claimed that he issued the statement with the blessing of Federal Territory Youth chief Datuk Razlan Rafii and had the support of 100 people.
He said all the party members aged 60 and above should step down and surrender party assets in custody of the leaders to be returned.
Meanwhile, Umno members at the scene claimed that they did not know who Taqiuddin was.
Umno Gombak branch Youth chief Syed Mohd Imran Syed Abdul Aziz claimedt no one knew who Taiquiddin was and asked on Razlan’s whereabouts to back his claim.
“Why can’t Razlan make this statement himself. In Umno, we are not authorised to make statements without the party consent.
“If Khairy (Jamaluddin) wants to be president, he has to wait for the party polls,” he added.
His sentiments were also echoed Mohd Faisal.
Following Umno’s defeat in the polls, Youth members from at least six states - Penang, Johor, Terengganu, Kedah, FT, Selangor - have issued statements against Najib, although Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has so far remained silent on their calls.