KUALA LUMPUR – As journalists searched high and low for him following breaking news by The Vibes on his arrest, former Prasarana Malaysia Bhd non-executive chairman Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman was treating it like just another at work for his party Umno.
The Pasir Salak MP was present at the Umno election director’s office in the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre here today.
He brushed aside all talk about his earlier arrest by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and his subsequent release on oral bail.
Tajuddin, who is election director for Umno as well as Barisan Nasional, was quoted by Utusan Malaysia as saying that he was there to resolve issues related to the people.
He refused to comment on the arrest and investigation by the anti-graft agency.
“What investigation? No need to talk about it, lah,” he reportedly told Utusan when its reporter reached him on the phone.
“I am okay. I’m now near the election director's room. Taking care of the affairs of the people,” he said curtly.
He said the priority now is to focus on rendering service and boosting Umno’s chances in the next polls.
“I urge all (Umno) members to continue your work as usual so that it will be easier facing the upcoming general election,” he reportedly said.
“Umno is a party that is reputed for engaging heavily on tackling the public’s problems.
“When the general election comes, the people will appreciate our concern and the help we give, then it will be easy to face the election,” he added.
“What the government does, let the government do. What we have been doing, we must keep on pursuing as we normally do.”
It is learnt Tajuddin was arrested after presenting himself for questioning at the MACC headquarters here yesterday afternoon but was released on oral bail (jaminan mulut), which is usually accorded to government servants in the evening.
He was supposed to have been charged yesterday itself. However, the MACC is still awaiting instructions from the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
It is understood that the MACC detained him over the appointment of his son-in-law to Prasarana.
He is being investigated under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009, which covers the offence of “using office or position for gratification”.
On Wednesday, Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz had issued a letter to Tajuddin to inform him that his tenure as chairman of Prasarana had been terminated.
His removal from the post came two days after Tajuddin was severely criticised for seeming to treat the LRT train accident on May 24 in a lighthearted and blasé manner at a press conference after visiting the site on Tuesday.
Calls for his resignation and a petition on the matter gained widespread support, with videos lampooning and berating his conduct also going viral on social media.
In the incident about 8.30pm on May 24, two LRT trains collided head-on underground near the KLCC station.
Of the 213 victims, 64 were sent to Kuala Lumpur Hospital that night. Six were reported to be in critical condition the next day. No fatalities were reported. – The Vibes, May 28, 2021
