Pasir Salak MP Tajuddin Abdul Rahman has claimed that a group of senior and influential leaders in Umno gathered to broker a deal that would see president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi step down amicably as early as 2020.

According to Tajuddin, among the leaders present were former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan and Umno vice-president Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

The former Umno Supreme Working Council member who was sacked last week added that the plan fell through after Mohamad Hasan bailed.