Finance Minister issues letter terminating Tajuddin’s services

PETALING JAYA: Controversial Prasarana Malaysia chairman Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (pic) has been terminated from his post immediately, said the Finance Ministry.

In a letter addressed to the Pasir Salak MP yesterday, Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz thanked Tajuddin for his contributions to the company.

“It is informed that the Finance Minister (Incorporated) has agreed to terminate the services of Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman as the chairman of Prasarana Malaysia Bhd effective immediately, ” said the letter, which did not mention the reason for the termination.

Tajuddin assumed the post on May 11 last year, replacing former chief judge of Malaya Tan Sri Zaharah Ibrahim, who resigned on May 7 after serving as chairman since Nov 11,2019.

Tajuddin has been roundly criticised for the way he handled a press conference on Tuesday over Monday’s LRT Kelana Jaya train crash.

Before news of his sacking broke, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said he advised Tajuddin to apologise for his conduct during the press conference.

“I called Tajuddin, who is also an Umno MP.

“He could figure out what I was going to say, ” Najib wrote on Facebook yesterday.

He said Tajuddin admitted his mistakes during the press conference, and accepted his advice on the matter.

Najib said Tajuddin acknowledged that the LRT press conference “was not the time to joke” in light of the severity of the incident which resulted in many passengers sustaining injuries.

“He (Tajuddin) admitted the press conference should have been done better, with greater empathy and information, ” Najib wrote, adding that Tajuddin would also apologise to the media, particularly a journalist from Phoenix TV.

Tajuddin’s nonchalant, and at times, dismissive, response to questions from journalists drew widespread calls on social media for his resignation.

Najib said he also advised Tajuddin to increase the RM1,000 cash aid to the crash victims, while helping them to get aid from Socso.

He also reminded Tajuddin to keep his promise of resigning from his post at the appropriate time when all Umno MPs are ordered to (vacate their government-linked posts) by the party’s supreme council.

When contacted, Tajuddin brushed aside the matter, noting there was “no love lost” for him, and that he has no issue with his termination as non-executive chairman.

“I have received the letter already. There’s nothing to comment now.

“It’s not a pressing issue or something to worry about, ” he added.

Elsewhere, the police confirmed yesterday they are investigating Tajuddin for violating Covid-19 standard operating procedure by failing to wear a face mask during the press conference.

On Monday night, an off service train under manual control ran into another that was carrying 213 passengers in the underground stretch between the KLCC and Kampung Baru stations.

The incident left 47 people severely injured and 166 others with light injuries.

As of Tuesday, three patients were still under intensive care.