PM says Tajuddin’s appointment as ambassador approved by Jokowi

Updated 1 year ago · Published on 18 May 2022 4:27PM · 2 Comments

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob (pictured) brushes aside criticism over Umno MP Tajuddin Abdul Rahman’s appointment as the ambassador to Indonesia, saying it has the approval of that government. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, May 18, 2022.

PASIR Salak lawmaker Tajuddin Abdul Rahman’s appointment as the ambassador to Indonesia has been approved by that country’s government, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said in brushing aside criticism over the appointment.

In defending his party man, Ismail said that Indonesian President Joko Widodo had given the nod.

“We cannot satisfy everybody.

“He is a veteran politician and experienced. Let him do the job,” he was quoted in Malay-language news portal Sinar Harian today.

Tajuddin’s appointment has drawn flak, with opposition leaders panning it.

The Pasir Salak MP confirmed yesterday he had been appointed ambassador to Indonesia and that it was approved by President Joko Widodo.

Tajuddin will replace Zainal Abidin Bakar, a career diplomat who has been ambassador since 2018.

The 74-year-old lawmaker is no stranger to controversy. He was previously fired as head of the government’s public transport operator Prasarana after making insensitive remarks in the aftermath of a Kuala Lumpur LRT collision that injured hundreds of passengers.

He was also fined for breaching regulation 17 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within the Infected Local Areas) Regulations 2021 when he appeared wearing a face shield without a mask during a press conference following the crash. 

About a month later, he was fined again for breaching Covid-19 protocol by not wearing a mask in Parliament. 

In May last year, he was also arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to assist in allegations of abuse of power for giving a friend a job in Prasarana. 

Then in July, he was fired as Umno’s election director after an audio file of him criticising party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was leaked on social media. – May 18, 2022.

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Comments

  • Lets hope the civil servants can see that politicians and their cronies are taking over their jobs! The ones eating their rice is not the pendatang but the ones that claim to struggle for them!

    Posted 1 year ago by Loyal Malaysian · Reply

  • Ismail Sabri is passing the "buck" to President Jokowi. What would you expect President Jokowi to say or do?
    The politically correct courtesy is to acknowledge the appointment as that person is nominated by the sovereign country.

    Ismail Sabri performance is wanting and it clearly makes no sense to appoint Pasir Salak to the important post. Perhaps Ismail Sabri wants to cultivate Tajuddin's support when he takes on Zahid Hamidi in the party polls?? That's is perhaps the reason then.

    Posted 1 year ago by Super Duper · Reply