KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman was removed from the Umno Supreme Council as his actions and stance contravened the decision of the party.
This was alluded to by Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi when he was asked to comment on the decision to drop the Pasir Salak member of parliament from the council.
Zahid, who is also Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, said Tajuddin was aware of what he did to the party that led to his expulsion.
"I am of the view that all Umno Supreme Council members have to adhere to the decisions made by the party during both the Umno General Assembly and annual general meeting.
"We have to toe the party line instead of doing otherwise," he told reporters after launching the BN Youth Job fair here today.
Present were BN deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, BN youth chairman Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki and Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.
Also in attendance was BN Job Carnival director Datuk Mohd Lassim Burhan.
Pressed further to specify the reason behind Tajuddin's removal, Zahid replied: "I think only he knows. It is not fair for me to announce it in public. He knows what he did to the party," he said.
Asked if the decision to remove Tajuddin was because he broke Umno's regulations, Zahid reiterated that the media should ask Tajuddin instead.
"That is why you must ask him on the statements he made as well as the materials he had used during his speech and ceramah," he said.
Zahid said he has no issue if a member has a personal disagreement with him.
"However, when a decision is made by the party, we must adhere to it as required by the party's regulations and constitution," he said.
He added that based on Umno's constitution, the decision to appoint a member in the supreme council falls under the Umno president.
However, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan provided a different reason behind Tajuddin's expulsion from the supreme council.
Ahmad said it was done to allow the latter to focus on his duties and responsibilities as the ambassador to Indonesia.
Umno, said Ahmad, wants Malaysia to further strengthen its bilateral ties with Indonesia in various areas including economy, politics and socio-development.
"Therefore, from my point of view, Tajuddin is being given the opportunity to focus all his time as an ambassador," he said.
The responsibility of a member of the party's supreme council, said Ahmad, demands the person to focus on the party on a "full-time basis", especially when the party is preparing to face the general election.
"How will he perform his duties full-time as an ambassador and a member of the supreme council? This (holding two important positions) will be difficult for him.
"To be fair to him, the responsibility to the country is more important and a top priority, moreover given Indonesia is our close neighbour.
"We do not want his duty in the Umno Supreme Council to affect his work as an ambassador," he said.