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Tajuddin Abdul Rahman

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In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Abdul Rahman is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Tajuddin.
Yang Berbahagia Dato' Sri Haji
Tajuddin Abdul Rahman
SSAP DPMP DMSM AMP KMN
تاج الدين عبدالرحمن‎
Tajuddin in 2019
Ministerial roles
2013–2018Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry
Faction represented in Dewan Rakyat
2008–2022Barisan Nasional
Faction represented in Perak State Legislative Assembly
2004–2008Barisan Nasional
Other roles
2008–2013Chairman of FELCRA
2020–2021Chairman of Prasarana Malaysia
2021–2022Chairman of the Government Backbenchers Club
Personal details
Born
Tajuddin bin Abdul Rahman

(1948-01-17) 17 January 1948 (age 76)
Perak, Malayan Union (now Malaysia)
Political partyUnited Malays National Organisation (UMNO)
(1975–1995, 1998-suspended 2022)[1]
Parti Melayu Semangat 46 (S46)
(1995–1998)
Other political
affiliations		Barisan Nasional (BN)
(1975–1995, since 1998)
Perikatan Nasional (PN)
(aligned:since 2020)
Muafakat Nasional (MN)
(since 2019)
SpouseRohkiah Abdul Samat
Children4
OccupationPolitician
Websitetajuddinpps.blogspot.my
Tajuddin Abdul Rahman on Facebook
Tajuddin Abdul Rahman on Parliament of Malaysia

Dato' Sri Haji Tajuddin bin Abdul Rahman (Jawi: تاج الدين بن عبدالرحمن‎; born 17 January 1948) is a Malaysian politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Pasir Salak from March 2008 to November 2022, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry in the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration under former Prime Minister Najib Razak and former Ministers Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Ahmad Shabery Cheek from May 2013 to the collapse of BN administration in May 2018 and Member of the Perak State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Kampong Gajah from March 2004 to March 2008. He is a member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a component party of the ruling BN coalition.[2][3][4] He also served as member of the supreme council of UMNO before his removal from the position in June 2022.[5]

Background

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Tajuddin hails from Kampung Gajah, Pasir Salak, Perak. He attended school at Seri Perak Secondary School, Teluk Intan and then obtained his Bachelor of Economics degree from University of Malaya.[6]

Politics

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Tajuddin has been in politics since the early 1980s around Chenderong Balai, Kampung Gajah, Pasir Salak and Teluk Intan. He became Head of UMNO Youth Division Pasir Salak (1982-1988) and as UMNO Youth Movement Exco from 1986 to 1988.

In 1987, he and UMNO youth lineage gathered at the TPCA Stadium, Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur. Following that, he was arrested by Internal Security Act (ISA) under Ops Lalang with Ibrahim Ali, Fahmi Ibrahim and others. He always compared UMNO's struggle with Dato Maharaja Lela's struggle against colonial British and its Resident, James W.W. Birch's assassination in Pasir Salak.[7]

In 1988 after the establishment of UMNO Baru, he was barred from re-joining UMNO for being accused of joining Semangat 46. However, in 1990 he was re-accepted as a member of UMNO after the allegations were baseless.

In 1995, he was sacked by the UMNO Supreme Council for involvement in money politics of RM6 million for the post of Pasir Salak division chief who was then held by Perak Menteri Besar Ramli Ngah Talib. At that time, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim became Deputy Prime Minister and strongly supported Ramli. In 1998 he was re-elected to UMNO unconditionally and was elected as Pasir Salak UMNO deputy leader without contest in 2000. In UMNO's Pasir Salak division internal leadership conflict, he had backed Megat Junid Megat Ayub against Ramli.

In the 2004 General Election, he contested and defeated Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) candidate in the Perak state assembly seat of Kampong Gajah. At the UMNO annual general assembly in September 2004, he was selected by Perak UMNO to debate the economic proposal.

GLCs chairman

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On 22 September 2008, Tajuddin was appointed Chairman of FELCRA Berhad (2008 – 2013), a government-owned GLC company, prior to his deputy minister appointment.[6][8]

Tajuddin was appointed as the chairman of Prasarana Malaysia Berhad (Prasarana) by the Perikatan Nasional (PN) on 1 May 2020.[6][9][10] On 26 May 2021, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) terminated his tenure as the non-executive chairman of Prasarana following his controversial way of handling a press conference regarding the 2021 Kelana Jaya LRT collision involving 2 LRTs just the day before.[11]

Ambassador of Malaysia to Indonesia

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Despite being rejected by Jakarta in 2021, Tajuddin was successfully appointed the Ambassador of Malaysia to Indonesia by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob in May 2022.[12][13][14] He was set to set foot on Jakarta after receiving formal appointment by The Yang di-Pertuan Agong on 20 June 2022. However, the swearing-in ceremony for him to be appointed to the position was delayed and he was not sworn in. This left this appointment unclear to date as a result of the lack of clarification on the issue. On 11 July 2022, media reports suggested that he had been dropped quoting sources from the government.[15] On 13 July 2022, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that Tajuddin would issue a statement clarifying the issue.[16] On 15 July 2022, he stated that he would abide by whatever decisions the government makes but did not confirm the authenticity of him being dropped.[17]

Controversies and issues

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Tajuddin has been described as an "outspoken" MP for his notoriously brash nature and abrasive language.[18][19] He is known of his long history of controversy and uncouth behaviour throughout his political career.[20]

Tajuddin was sacked from UMNO in 1995 following allegations that he had paid RM6 million to secure his position as a division chief. who was tied to allegations of corruption in the award of a RM1.3 billion 23-year concession to his company to build the MARA University of Technology (UiTM) Tapah campus.[21] He is notorious for releasing controversial statements such as threatening "to slap" Malaysian Chinese citizens who take their complaints outside Malaysia.[22]

In a debate in the Dewan Rakyat on 6 May 2008, Tajuddin pledged to sue Azmin Ali from PKR if he continues to convict him with the 'six million dollar man' controversy for the purpose of gaining the post of UMNO division chief. He also claimed to be sacked from UMNO by Anwar Ibrahim then because Anwar wanted to become Prime Minister of Malaysia.

On 5 November 2008, he described then opposition MP M. Kulasegaran a "bastard" and a "bloody bastard" in Parliament because Kulasegaran had claimed that Tajuddin "was hated by Indians in Pasir Salak". Tajuddin also had challenged Kulasegaran to "settle outside the House of Commons". He also labelled Kulasegaran "rude". However, the Deputy Speaker of Dewan Rakyat, Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar distracting Tajuddin to take back his bad word. However, both of them retracted the word.[23] and was cited for making sexual innuendos.[23]

On 13 April 2010, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia warned Tajuddin for threatening M. Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat) outside the Dewan Rakyat on 8 April 2010. The two were summoned to give an explanation of the alleged blackmail incident. They are supposed to maintain the integrity of parliament. Tajuddin disputed Kulasegaran's actions on blogging sites to defame him and persecute him.

On 31 March 2016, Tajuddin again courted controversy when he publicly defended Prime Minister of Malaysia Najib Razak and his wife, Rosmah Mansor for their extravagant lifestyle.[24] He told reporters at Parliament that it is perfectly normal to purchase expensive handbags for significant others to court them. He continued to defend the Prime Minister and his wife's extravagant spending and luxury vacations in response to media reports by whistle-blower Sarawak Report.[25]

On 21 November 2016, Tajuddin faced criticism when he said "The only woman with a 'Kok' (slang as vulgar word) is in Seputeh", referring to Teresa Kok, Democratic Action Party (DAP) MP for Seputeh.[26] However, he was defended by the Deputy Speaker Ronald Kiandee, who dismissed it as a reference to her name, not a vulgarity. MP for Shah Alam Khalid Samad became involved in a heated argument with Tajuddin over his rude remark. MP for Shah Alam Khalid Samad remarks him as "sial" and "menteri sial" several times at Tajuddin and then Tajuddin says "kepala hotak kau" and "rude" in Malay language several times at MP for Shah Alam. On 24 November 2016, a group of Tajuddin supporters from Pasir Salak including his sons entered the restricted area of the Malaysian Parliament to insult and assault Khalid, who was not hurt as he was shielded by security guards. a group of Tajuddin supporters mention the bad word as "pukimak" which is a profanity in the Malay language. According to Khalid during a brief press briefing, these guards were receiving punches aimed at himself. A video shows the event where MP Khalid was attacked inside the compound of Malaysian Parliament. In April 2017, eight of the rioters including Tajuddin's son Firdaus Tajuddin were charged and punished under Section 14 of the Act which only meted out a maximum punishment of RM100 fine by the court.[27][28][29][30][31]

Tajuddin was on 25 May 2018 accused of criminal breach of trust by abusing his powers as Felcra Bhd chairman and misusing the Felcra fund in a police report was lodged against him by Mohamad Maharani Md Tasi, a government retiree.[8]

On 24 May 2021, a head-on collision between LRT No.240 and No.181 involving 213 passengers occurred between the KLCC and Kampung Baru stations. Out of 67 who were brought to Hospital Kuala Lumpur, 6 were in critical condition; 16 in semi-critical condition while 42 were non-critical. Tajuddin conducted a controversial press conference[32] on the next day in his capacity as Prasarana Chairman to address the situation. While introducing the key people there, he refer to the woman to the left of him as 'Cantik molek'. He is also seen visibly unprepared to present most of the facts in regards to the incident. When asked about the situation in the tunnel, he said, "Normal... only the two cars are together... they kissed each other..." And then, he appeared to laugh at his "joke". To a question on keeping passengers safe from COVID-19 while being treated at the hospital, Tajuddin hit back at a foreign correspondent who asked this question by telling her: “You don’t make assumptions, all kinds of assumptions,”. He also asked the reporter where she was from, twice. When the reply came, he said, "China. No wonder lah."[33][34] He also failed to wear a face mask during the press conference[35] and was fined RM1,500 for flouting the standard operating procedure (SOP) of Movement Control Order (MCO) by the police.[36] Former Prime Minister Najib Razak said that Tajuddin admitted his mistake in the press conference, and said that Tajuddin would resign on a date to be determined by UMNO.[37] Meanwhile a petition for Tajuddin’s resignation gets 100,000 signatures in less than 24 hours.[38] He was later sacked by the MOF with immediate effect on 26 May 2021.[11][39] He responded to his sacking with the following controversial remark: "Want to terminate, terminate then. What is the issue? What is the matter? Want to terminate, terminate lah. Thank you lah. I can do other work".[40]

During the train disastrous incident, a video of a luxury mansion, dubbed as a 'palace' owned by Tajuddin at the elite Bukit Damansara, has been viral in the social media.[41][42] On 28 May 2021, a day aftermath, Tajuddin was arrested and released on conditional bail by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) regarding two charges of abuse of power over his son-in-law's Prasarana appointment.[36][43][44][45]

On 20 July 2022, he uttered an offensive Malaysia vulgar word "pukimak" during the debate on Anti-Sexual Harassment bill in Parliament, targeting at various opposition female lawmakers.[46] He was given a warning by the speaker for that.

Health

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In January 2021, Tajuddin was tested positive for COVID-19.[47] He has recovered and was discharged from Sungai Buloh Hospital about a week later.[48]

Election results

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Perak State Legislative Assembly[49][50][51]
Year Constituency Candidate Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
2004 N49 Kampong Gajah Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (UMNO) 10,352 64.21% Mustafa Shaari (PAS) 5,335 33.09% 16,123 5,137 73.19%
Parliament of Malaysia[52][50][51][53]
Year Constituency Candidate Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
2008 P073 Pasir Salak, Perak Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (UMNO) 16,928 52.70% Mustaffa Kamil Ayub (PKR) 14,240 44.34% 32,119 2,688 75.20%
2013 Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (UMNO) 24,875 57.14% Mustaffa Kamil Ayub (PKR) 17,489 40.17% 43,533 7,386 84.50%
2018 Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (UMNO) 20,003 46.04% Salihuddin Radin Sumadi (PPBM) 12,291 28.29% 44,508 7,712 81.41%
Zafarulazhan Zan (PAS) 11,151 25.67%

Honours

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Honours of Malaysia

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Report: Umno suspends Pasir Salak MP Tajuddin, Alor Setar Umno chief Yusof Ismail". Malay Mail. October 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  2. ^ "Tajuddin bin Abdul Rahman, Y.B. Dato' Haji" (in Malay). Parliament of Malaysia. Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 16 June 2010.
  3. ^ "YB. Dato' Sri Haji Tajuddin Bin Abdul Rahman" (in Malay). Kementerian Pertanian & Industri Asas Tani Malaysia. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2010.
  4. ^ "Ex-Perak menteri besar loses Pasir Salak". The Star (Malaysia). 25 July 2004. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  5. ^ "Tajuddin removed from Umno supreme council". The Star. 24 June 2022.
  6. ^ a b c "Tajuddin Abdul Rahman dilantik sebagai Pengerusi Kumpulan Prasarana". Astro Awani. 13 May 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  7. ^ Mariam Mokhtar (3 June 2021), "Does Pasir Salak reflect Malay progress?", Rebuilding Malaysia, retrieved 13 June 2021
  8. ^ a b "Tajuddin accused of feasting with Felcra money". Bernama. Free Malaysia Today. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Tajuddin Rahman appointed as Prasarana chairman". New Straits Times. 13 May 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  10. ^ "SPRM mula siasatan terhadap Prasarana" (in Malay). Sinar Harian. 4 January 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Tajuddin terminated as Prasarana chairman effective immediately". The Star (Malaysia). 26 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  12. ^ "Tajuddin set to travel to Jakarta as Malaysian ambassador". Malaysia Now. 17 May 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  13. ^ "Tajuddin confirms appointment as envoy to Indonesia". 17 May 2022.
  14. ^ "For constituents to decide if he should give up Pasir Salak, says Tajuddin".
  15. ^ "Sources: Tajuddin dropped as Malaysia's ambassador to Indonesia". The Star. 11 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  16. ^ "PM: Tajuddin to clarify ambassador status". The Star. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  17. ^ "I'll abide by whatever govt decides, says Tajuddin on envoy post". The Star. 15 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  18. ^ "Tajuddin strikes conciliatory tone". The Star (Malaysia). 17 July 2008. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  19. ^ "Tajuddin – a roller-coaster career that's now a train wreck". Free Malaysia Today. 27 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  20. ^ "A man of much controversy: Here's a list of the times Tajuddin made headlines for all the wrong reasons". Malay Mail. 27 May 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  21. ^ "Umno's 'six million dollar man' gets deputy minister post - The Malaysian Insider". Archived from the original on 3 October 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  22. ^ "Deputy Minister 'threatens to slap' Chinese who complain outside Malaysia. - The Rakyat Post". Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  23. ^ a b "DAP condemn Tajuddin for disrespectful remark". The Sun (Malaysia). 6 November 2008. Archived from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  24. ^ Kow Gah Chie (31 March 2016). "'Girls like handbags,' says deputy minister in defending Rosmah". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  25. ^ Nash Jenkins (31 March 2016). "Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Has Allegedly Spent 'Millions' on Luxury Goods". WSJ. Time. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  26. ^ KiniTV (20 November 2016), Deputy minister: The only woman with a 'Kok' is in Seputeh, archived from the original on 20 December 2021, retrieved 23 November 2016
  27. ^ "Tajuddin's son, nine others ordered to surrender over ambush on MP". Malaysiakini. 24 November 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  28. ^ "Tajuddin's son, Parliament rioters arrested". The Malay Mail. 25 November 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  29. ^ M. KUMAR (2 February 2017). "Deputy minister's son among eight to be charged over Parliament ruckus". The Star. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  30. ^ Alfian ZM Tahir (8 April 2017). "Jazlan: Charge against Tajudin's son too lenient". Berita Daily. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  31. ^ Hafiz Yatim (7 April 2017). "Nur Jazlan also feels Parliament protesters given light charge". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  32. ^ MGTV LIVE : 213 Penumpang Yang Terlibat Diberi Bantuan Khas RM1000.- Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, 24 May 2021, archived from the original on 20 December 2021, retrieved 27 May 2021
  33. ^ "Public transport group slams Prasarana chairman Tajuddin's 'rude, disgusting' conduct during press conference". Malay Mail Online. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  34. ^ "Defiant Tajuddin savaged after 'first thing in the morning' response to LRT crash". Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  35. ^ "Cops probing Prasarana chairman Tajuddin for failure to wear face mask during press conference on LRT crash". Malay Mail Online. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  36. ^ a b "Tajuddin fined RM1,500 for going maskless at LRT crash presser". The Vibes. 9 June 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  37. ^ "Najib says Tajuddin sorry for being insensitive, will quit when Umno says so". Malaysiakini. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  38. ^ "Petition for Tajuddin's resignation gets 100,000 signatures in less than 24 hours". Malay Mail Online. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  39. ^ "With termination letter now in hand, Tajuddin says getting the boot as Prasarana chairman 'not a pressing issue'". Malay Mail Online. 27 May 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  40. ^ "'Want to terminate? Terminate lah', a defiant Tajuddin says over sacking". Free Malaysia Today. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  41. ^ "Selepas dipecat, tular pula "Istana" besar Tajuddin yang sedang diubahsuai" (in Malay). The Malaysia Life. 27 May 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  42. ^ "Tular "istana" Tajuddin yang sedang diubahsuai selepas pemecatan" (in Malay). Agenda Daily. 27 May 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  43. ^ "Tajuddin arrested by MACC, released on conditional bail". New Straits Times. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  44. ^ "MACC detains former Prasarana chairman Tajuddin on charges of power abuse". Malay Mail. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  45. ^ "Video: Calm before the storm for Pasir Salak MP?". The Vibes. 29 May 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  46. ^ "Furore in the House during debate". The Star. 22 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  47. ^ "Pasir Salak MP Tajuddin Rahman positive for COVID-19". The Sun Daily. 20 January 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  48. ^ "'Love you all', Tajuddin lega bebas Covid-19". Malay Mail (in Malay). 28 January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021 – via ProjekMM.
  49. ^ "Malaysia Decides 2008 (2004 results)". The Star (Malaysia). Archived from the original on 21 August 2008. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  50. ^ a b "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 4 February 2017. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
  51. ^ a b "Malaysia General Election". undiinfo Malaysian Election Data. Malaysiakini. Retrieved 4 February 2017. Results only available from the 2004 election.
  52. ^ "Malaysia Decides 2008". The Star (Malaysia). Archived from the original on 21 August 2008. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  53. ^ "KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM 13". Sistem Pengurusan Maklumat Pilihan Raya Umum (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Archived from the original on 14 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  54. ^ a b c d "SEMAKAN PENERIMA DARJAH KEBESARAN, BINTANG DAN PINGAT". Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). Archived from the original on 19 July 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  55. ^ "The Malacca Yang Di-Pertua Negri's Birthday Honours List". The Star. 12 October 2003. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  56. ^ "CARIAN REKOD PENERIMA DARJAH KEBESARAN/PINGAT NEGERI PERAK DARUL RIDZUAN". pingat.perak.gov.my.
  57. ^ "Sultan of Perak's Birthday Honours List 2007". The Star. 23 April 2007. Archived from the original on 29 October 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
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