PUTRAJAYA: There are many things that are hidden from the public, based on the recent tell-all press conference by former Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman.

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said this included the revelation calling for statutory declarations (SD) to support the next prime minister.

He said the change of prime minister was turned into an issue by certain parties to stoke public sentiment.

"It seems that many things that happened were hidden from public knowledge. There was a concerted effort to appoint a new prime minister, so replacing the prime minister was turned into an issue.  

"That's their job … and it is not to govern the country," he told reporters outside the Attorney-General's Chambers, here, today.

Dr Mahathir was commenting on Tajuddin's tell-all yesterday (June 27), calling for Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Zahid Hamidi's resignation, claiming that Zahid was not qualified to lead the party.

Tajuddin, who is also the Pasir Salak member of parliament, was sacked from his post in the Umno supreme council last Tuesday via a letter.

He also revealed that the decisions made at the Umno supreme council meeting so far were not based on its members' views but because they were following Zahid's wishes.

Tajuddin also claimed that Zahid had led the signing of the SD among Umno MPs to support PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the prime minister.

The ambassador-designate to Indonesia also claimed that Zahid was also unhappy with Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob's position as prime minister and had wanted the position for himself.