KUALA LUMPUR – Over 40,000 individuals have signed a petition calling for the resignation of Prasarana Malaysia Bhd chairman Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman over his faux pas during yesterday’s press conference at the Kelana Jaya Light Rail Transit Line collision site.
At the time of writing, the petition on Change.org has only about 9,000 signatures to go before reaching its goal of 50,000.
Its description highlights Tajuddin’s failure and lack of empathy in handling the incident, which occurred on Monday night.
“The failure, along with the lack of sensitivity and empathy by Tajuddin when handling victims of the LRT tragedy on May 24, proves that he is not qualified to hold the position of Prasarana chairman,” said the petition.
“His arrogant attitude was apparent during a press conference conducted by himself after visiting the location of the incident. This is where he made a racist remark towards a Chinese journalist.”
It is understood to be referring to his response to a reporter from a China media organisation.
Following a question posed to him by the said journalist, Tajuddin asked where she was from.
After she replied that she was from China, Tajuddin said “no wonder”, followed by a laugh.
The reporter had asked if victims of the accident who are hospitalised would be safe, given that Covid-19 patients are warded there.
Tajuddin has said he will not step down as Prasarana chief over the crash that left 64 people hospitalised.
At 8.33pm on Monday, two LRT trains on the Kelana Jaya line collided in a tunnel near the KLCC station, with one train coming from Kg Baru and the other from Gombak heading towards Petaling Jaya.
Of the 213 victims, 64 were sent to Kuala Lumpur Hospital. Six are in critical condition, with three requiring ventilators. Fifteen are in semi-critical condition and the rest sustained non-critical injuries. – The Vibes, May 26, 2021
