KUALA LUMPUR – No one – not even fellow party members or political allies – will be spared his rebuke if they do wrong, Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (Pasir Salak-BN) said today as he launched a scathing attack on the Defence Ministry, which is led by Umno colleague Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.
Debating the Tabung Angkatan Tentera (Amendment) Bill 2022, Tajuddin said many army veterans have been neglected by the ministry, with scores falling into poverty upon their retirement from service.
He also berated the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT) for failing to take care of the welfare of former army members, questioning the purpose of its existence.
“Doesn’t the LTAT management feel guilty? Defence Ministry, aren’t you looking? Ministers keep changing, but the situation remains the same,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin (Hang Tuah Jaya-PH) then pointed out that the minister in charge of veteran affairs is from Umno.
Responding, Tajuddin said he would call a spade a spade, regardless of political affiliations.
“If you’re right, I’ll support. If you’re wrong, I won’t support. I don’t care whether you’re from the government or opposition.
“Just because he’s your member, your government, your ‘gang’, everything is fine. Corruption is okay, power abuse is okay. Failure to care for stakeholders’ welfare okay. Where is your responsibility as a lawmaker? Be ashamed.”
“To quote Port Dickson (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim), the rich become richer, the poor become poorer. I still remember his words because I used to support him. But that’s the past. Now, he sometimes doesn’t do what he says,” he said in jest.
Seeing the shift in Tajuddin’s speech to a more light-hearted tone, Datuk Mahfuz Omar (Pokok Sena-PH) did not pass up on the opportunity to tease the Umno politician for no longer supporting his own party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (Bagan Datuk-BN).
This is in reference to his outburst against Zahid in June after he was sacked from the Umno Supreme Council for supposedly not towing the party line.
In reply, Tajuddin said: “Even Bagan Datuk, if he’s wrong, I will reprimand him. You know that, you’ve seen my act. If you are right, I will support you.”
Commenting further on LTAT, Tajuddin said those responsible should have a fighting spirit when carrying out their responsibilities for the rakyat, saying they should emulate him.
“That’s why I’m still here. Just like Port Dickson, we both are over 70 years old. We ought to retire. But as long as he doesn’t retire, I won’t too,” he quipped.
M. Karupaiya (Padang Serai-PH) then told Tajuddin the reason Anwar has yet to exit active politics is because of his dream of becoming the prime minister.
Tajuddin responded by saying: “I want to be one too, if possible. What, you think he’s that great? We all studied together in Universiti Malaya. He was great in his faculty, and I was in mine.”
“I was in economics, you know? I’m an economic graduate. What do you think? I want to return to my hometown, and be a village head after this. But not now. For now, the struggle continues,” he said, ending his speech. – The Vibes, August 1, 2022
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