KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has been asked to justify the appointment of Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman as ambassador to Indonesia, as disgruntled Malaysians took to social media to lambast the decision.
Tajuddin, who is seen as a rather combative and polarising figure in the local political scene, confirmed his appointment as the head of mission to the republic earlier today.
Leading the barrage of criticism is PKR’s Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin, who questioned how Tajuddin could be picked over many other more qualified diplomats to oversee one of Malaysia’s key overseas missions, particularly in handling the challenging bilateral relationship between the two countries.
Sim, who is a member of the Parliament Special Select Committee on International Affairs, said with Indonesia being on the top of foreign relations agenda, Malaysia could not afford to cause tension among the two countries.
“Malaysians have seen how Tajuddin performed in Parliament and his handling of the (LRT) crisis. Is he the right choice for this important position?” he posted today.
1. As a member of Parliament Special Select Committee on International Affairs, I am disappointed with the appointment of YB Tajuddin Abd Rahman to be the Ambassador to Indonesia.
— SimTzeTzin 沈志勤 ?? (@simtzetzin) May 17, 2022
Tajuddin was heavily criticised for his poor handling of last year’s incident that saw the collision of two light rail transit trains in May, resulting in his sacking as Prasarana chairman.
Sim said while he respects the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s final decision to make the appointment, he noted that it is the prime minister’s prerogative to submit a candidate’s name to the king.
“Therefore, we must hold the government accountable for its choice of the candidate. The prime minister must answer to the public why he chose Tajuddin as ambassador to Indonesia.”
Sim also called out to the government for appointing a politician into the role, saying such appointees have often failed to uphold institutional professionalism, as is evident with Tajuddin’s removal from Prasarana.
For DAP’s Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii, Tajuddin’s appointment gives the impression that even a controversial politician embroiled in multiple blunders and notorious for his abrasive language can be picked for important posts.
Other than his poor handling of the LRT crash, Yii pointed to Tajuddin’s remark in 2015 when he threatened to slap ethnic Chinese for taking their complaints outside Malaysia, as among his many other controversies.
“He called an MP a bloody b*****d in Parliament, uttered the words ‘the only woman with a Kok is in Seputeh’, called YB Muar ‘budak’.
“When I first stood up to debate in Parliament, I could hear him shouting from his seat ‘new kid, learn first before debating’. It’s okay even if you did all that, you can still be appointed ambassador,” he said.
Blundered in handling of a press conference to address the two-train collision ✅
— Kelvin yii (@Kelvinyii88) May 17, 2022
Sacked by PRASARANA ✅
Threatened“to slap” ethnic Chinese who take their complaints outside Malaysia.✅
Called an MP “b*****d” and a “bloody b*****d” in Parliament✅ pic.twitter.com/Jra6jORcV3
Fellow DAP lawmaker Hannah Yeoh, in an apparent message to Indonesia, said: “Please know that this is not the best of Malaysia.”
“Because of the Sheraton Move, everything we have isn't the best this land has to offer, and this includes our cabinet too,” the Segambut lawmaker posted on Twitter.
Indonesia, please know that this is not the best of Malaysia. Because of Sheraton Move, everything we have isn't the best this land has to offer (and this includes our Cabinet too).https://t.co/9lItjwgltN
— Hannah Yeoh (@hannahyeoh) May 17, 2022
Lawyer and activist Michelle Yesudas posted: “Tajuddin is a grand example of an elite Malaysian man failing upwards.”
Tajuddin is a grand example of an elite Malaysian man failing upwards
— Michelle Yesudas (@MichelleYesudas) May 17, 2022
Meanwhile, scholar and political analyst Bridget Welsh also expressed her concern over Tajuddin’s appointment at a pivotal time when Indonesia is set to host the G20 Summit later this year and take over the ASEAN chairmanship next year.
Malaysia appoints UMNO politician Tajuddin, sacked for poor handling of the KL LRT crash in May 2021, as ambassador to Indonesia at pivotal time when Indonesia hosts G20 & takes over ASEAN chairmanship next year. Signals return of political not professional appts as ambassadors. https://t.co/V6wXcqaPtU
— Bridget Welsh (@dririshsea) May 17, 2022
“Signals return of political not professional appts as ambassadors,” she wrote. – The Vibes, May 17, 2022
