KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 — Suspended Umno leader Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman is reportedly demanding an apology from Pasir Salak division chief Khairul Azwan Harun for making malicious allegations about the former sabotaging the party during the last general elections.

Tajuddin reportedly said that he would give Khairul Azwan, also known as Azwanbro, a week to apologise or he would take legal action against him.

"I have appointed a lawyer and I have given written instructions to Azwanbro, I am giving him one week for him to issue an open apology.

"If he refuses to retract his statement, I will tell my lawyer to take legal action. Not only legal action, but my friends and I will lodge a report to the party’s disciplinary board,” he reportedly told reporters in Ipoh yesterday.

Tajuddin claimed that Khairul Azwan, who was elected as the new Pasir Salak Umno chief two months earlier, was acting out of line by defaming him and trying to remove him from the party.

Tajuddin insisted on his loyalty to the party and that he had been involved in campaigning for the BN candidate during the elections, and showed photos of him as proof of his efforts.

"I was involved during the campaign period, be it in the morning, afternoon, evening and night. I supported the BN candidate who contested at that time. I had sacrificed a lot, be it financial, time and energy. I gave my money not to buy the voters but for the party’s machinery.

"I spent up to RM1 million, what else do u want? Even the candidate himself didn’t do that,” he was quoted saying by the New Straits Times, referring to Khairul Azwan.

He added that Khairul Azwan did not deserve to be division chief as he could divide party members, especially in the Pasir Salak division.

"I will lodge a report to the party’s disciplinary board over his slanderous statement against me. Defamation is a serious offence. The board must take action against him,” he said.

Last week, Khairul Azwan had said that he hoped the party’s Supreme Council would not accept Tajuddin’s appeal for his suspension to be lifted.

Khairul also alleged that Tajuddin’s behaviour had undermined the party leadership and was damaging the party and that he would ensure that Tajuddin’s appeal would not be accepted by the party.

Tajuddin was suspended from the party last October and was not chosen to defend his Pasir Salak seat during the November election. He was later sacked as an Umno Supreme Council member and dropped as Malaysia’s ambassador to Indonesia in July.

He said that he has appealed against his suspension but has yet to get a reply.