Why hasn't Tajuddin been charged, Harapan asks AG

 

Pakatan Harapan has urged Attorney-General Idrus Harun to explain why Pasir Salak MP Tajuddin Abdul Rahman has not been charged for alleged abuse of power.

The MACC began probing Tajuddin in May over alleged abuse of power during his tenure as the Prasarana chairperson.

"The attorney-general's failure to take action in this case, after six months, shows that he too is abusing his power by conducting selective prosecution that is politically motivated," the Harapan presidential council said in a statement today.

it said that with Tajuddin slated to become the Malaysian ambassador to Indonesia next year, having the case hanging over him could create a negative perception towards the country.

"Are the highest honours being given to a neighbouring country when Malaysia appoints an ambassador who was detained by the government over alleged abuse of power?" the presidential council asked.

The statement was signed by coalition party leaders Anwar Ibrahim (PKR), Mohamad Sabu (Amanah), Lim Guan Eng (DAP) and Wilfred Madius Tangau (Upko).

The MACC probe was initiated after, among others, allegations surfaced that Tajuddin was pulling strings in a project that a family-linked company was involved in.

Tajuddin said the Latitud 8 project in Dang Wangi, Kuala Lumpur, was granted to Intan Sekitar Sdn Bhd in 2012 through an open tender, long before he became Prasarana chairperson.

Intan Sekitar Sdn Bhd, which is 51 percent owned by publicly-listed Crest Builder Holdings Berhad, is 49 percent owned by Detik Utuh Sdn Bhd.

Tajuddin's family has a 40 percent stake in Detik Utuh Sdn Bhd through Tindakan Juara Sdn Bhd, giving them an effective holding of 19.6 percent in the project.

The company had come into the spotlight following reports that the Prasarana board was considering terminating the project by paying RM80 million to Intan Sekitar.

Tajuddin was sacked as Prasarana chairperson in May following a gaffe-riddled press conference on the May 24 Kelana Jaya LRT collision. - Mkini