Najib to take over as Perak Umno, BN chief on Feb 1

IPOH: Datuk Seri Mohd Tajol Rosli Ghazali is expected to resign as chairman of the Perak Barisan Nasional and state Umno liaison committee to take responsibility for the defection of Bota assemblyman Datuk Nasarudin Hashim.

Party insiders told the New Straits Times that the former menteri besar had conveyed his intention to quit to Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Razak in a meeting at the latter's residence in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

It is learnt that Tajol Rosli, a supreme council member, will officially step down this week, with Najib assuming both posts effective Feb 1.

Tajol Rosli was supposed to vacate the posts after the party elections in March but decided to leave immediately following Nasarudin's defection to Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

He has held the two posts since 1999.
"Tajol Rosli was not asked to do so, but as a good leader he has decided to step down and take responsibility for his failure (to prevent the defection)," said a source.

"Najib is calm about this and will probably take over the helm of the Barisan Nasional in Perak."

It is learnt that Lintang assemblyman Datuk Ahamad Pakeh Adam and Pengkalan Baharu assemblyman Datuk Hamdi Abu Bakar were also present at the four-hour meeting.

The presence of the two men was due to rumours that they were also leaving Umno for the PKR.

"However, both pledged their loyalty to the party and gave their assurance that they would not jump ship, as widely speculated," the source said.

Kubu Gajah assemblyman Datuk Seri Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar, who was linked to the two men, also called Najib from abroad to affirm that he would not be crossing over to the opposition.

"All of them had a heart-to-heart talk on this matter and everything has been resolved for now," said another source.

With Nasarudin's defection to the PKR, Pakatan Rakyat now has 32 seats in Perak to BN's 27. - NST