PETALING JAYA, June 23 — Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, the ambassador-designate to Indonesia, has been removed as an Umno Supreme Council member.
In a letter, currently making the rounds on social media and sighted by FMT, Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan thanked the controversial MP for services rendered.
“The president, via this letter, has terminated Datuk Seri’s appointment as an Umno Supreme Council member,” he said, referring to party chief Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The letter was dated June 21.
FMT has confirmed the authenticity of the letter with a source.
Ahmad hoped that the Pasir Salak MP would continue to serve as a committed Umno member.
He also congratulated Tajuddin on the latter’s appointment as an ambassador.
On Sunday, Tajuddin confirmed that he had been invited to Istana Negara to receive his letter of appointment as Malaysia’s ambassador to Indonesia.
The post has remained vacant since Zainal Abidin Bakar, who was appointed on March 21, 2019, retired on April 4, 2021.
Tajuddin’s appointment had raised eyebrows and invited criticism from several quarters including MPs, former diplomats, politicians, and civil society.
However, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob defended his appointment, saying that the former Umno elections director was a “seasoned politician and (was) experienced”.
Tajuddin was removed from his post as Prasarana Malaysia Bhd chairman in May 2021, just days after his much-criticised press conference over a collision involving two LRT trains.
