Tajuddin confirms appointment as ambassador to Indonesia

Pasir Salak MP Tajuddin Abdul Rahman has confirmed his rumoured appointment as Malaysia's ambassador to Indonesia, based in Jakarta.

"It's true," the Umno leader said in a brief message to Malaysiakini.

Online portal Malaysia Now earlier today quoted diplomatic sources who revealed that Tajuddin's appointment has received approval from the Indonesian government under President Joko Widodo.

His appointment to replace career diplomat Zainal Abidin Bakar will see the return of a politician ambassador to the position.

Zainal was appointed in 2018 under the then Pakatan Harapan administration to replace former PKR MP turned Umno politician, Zahrain Mohd Hashim, who served in the position since 2013.

Prior to Tajuddin's confirmation, Indonesian news agency Antara had reported on his rumoured appointment since last October, later fueled by his presence during Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah's formal visit to Jakarta in November.

The 74-year-old politician was previously sacked from his position as chairperson of the government’s public transportation company Prasarana following remarks deemed insensitive in the aftermath of an LRT collision in Kuala Lumpur which left dozens of passengers injured.

Earlier last month, former diplomat Dennis Ignatius noted that vacancies left unfilled for top positions in Malaysian missions abroad have raised questions over domestic happenings in the Foreign Ministry. - Mkini