KUALA LUMPUR – Calls to retract Pasir Salak MP Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman’s appointment as ambassador to Indonesia is akin to going against the will of the Agong, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He said that since Tajuddin’s appointment has been approved by the cabinet and has also received the consent of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, it would be unwise to question the matter.
“He (Tajuddin) was supposed to be officially appointed the other day but it has been postponed since the Agong is not feeling well.
“Pushing for the appointment to be withdrawn would mean going against and challenging His Majesty’s powers,” he told reporters after officiating the Malaysian Trades Union Congress’ 42nd triennial delegates’ conference here today.
Last month, Tajuddin, who is the government’s backbencher chief, had reportedly confirmed receiving an invitation to Istana Negara for his official appointment to Indonesia in a ceremony scheduled for 2pm on June 20.
However, Comptroller of the Royal Household Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin said in a statement on June 20 that His Majesty is receiving treatment in hospital and has postponed all his programmes in the near future.
The selection of the outspoken Umno lawmaker has been a point of contention after his much-criticised handling of the Light Rail Transit collision in May last year.
Additionally, on June 21, Tajuddin was relieved from his post as Umno Supreme Council member following a directive from party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Just last week, Tajuddin had revealed in a tell-all press conference that there was an internal movement within the party to topple Zahid as the “big boss”, sharing a photo of a high-level meeting that discussed Zahid standing down from leadership duties.
He claimed that the movement was led by Mohamad Hasan, more commonly known as Tok Mat, who colluded with Zahid’s predecessor Datuk Seri Najib Razak to organise a meeting in May 2020.
When questioned if he would be willing to act as a middleman between the apparent feud between Tajuddin and Zahid, Ismail Sabri – who is also Umno vice-president – said today that there is no need for him to do so as the matter has been “settled”.
“There is only one camp in Umno,” he stressed, adding that party members are still waiting on the Registrar of Societies (RoS) to approve amendments to the party’s constitution which will allow for the postponement of party polls for the 2021/2023 term.
“We have not yet received their decision. If I am not mistaken, we should hear back from them before July 16,” he said.
On August 30, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan had received a letter from RoS director-general Jasri Karim informing him that the postponement, as decided by the party’s supreme council, is in order. – The Vibes, July 2, 2022
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