Malaysia’s Ismail Sabri Yaakob under fire for picking ‘empty can’ MP Tajuddin Abdul Rahman as envoy to Indonesia
- Tajuddin Abdul Rahman’s appointment as envoy to Jakarta comes as a surprise given his penchant for controversy over his three terms as a parliamentarian
- Malaysia was criticised by Indonesia over its alleged poor treatment of Indonesian workers, and its envoy to Jakarta plays a key role in managing such disputes
Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob is facing criticism after confirming a controversial politician will be made the country’s ambassador to Indonesia, sparking calls from the opposition and public for the appointment to be revoked.
The prime minister on Wednesday said that Indonesian President Joko Widodo, or Jokowi approved of Malaysia’s decision to appoint 74-year-old Tajuddin Abdul Rahman as envoy to Jakarta.
The news came as a surprise to many after rumours in November claimed the government had put Tajuddin’s appointment on the back burner.
Ismail Sabri vouched for the ambassador-designate’s credentials as a “seasoned and experienced politician” despite Tajuddin’s reputation for being abrasive and uncouth.
“We have agreed to appoint [Tajuddin as ambassador] and Indonesia has also agreed to it,” said Ismail Sabri.
It is not clear when Indonesia had given its consent, but Ismail Sabri’s announcement came just days after he attended the US-Asean Summit in Washington, which was also attended by Jokowi.
Almost immediately after the prime minister’s announcement, an online petition calling for Tajuddin’s removal was launched and collected more than 17,000 signatures in just 24 hours.