HE may currently be out of favour with UMNO’s top leadership but Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman’s popularity among Pasir Salak voters might very well give him an advantage – should he be picked to defend his seat – in the forthcoming 15th General Election (GE15).
With multi-corner fights and tough competition expected in every seat, it remains up in the air whether UMNO will field a relatively safe candidate who would likely be a shoo-in, or introduce a new and relatively unknown face.
However, The Vibes previously reported that if sentiments on the ground in Pasir Salak were of any indication, the outspoken politician appears to command the support of many constituents and even some of his fellow UMNO brethren as well.
Rumours of Tajuddin’s non-candidacy initially surfaced after he was suspended from UMNO last month.
For the uninitiated, Tajuddin was sacked from the Malay nationalist party’s supreme council in June. He was dealt a double whammy when he was also dropped as Malaysia’s ambassador to Indonesia in July.
After his oust from the UMNO supreme council, Tajuddin held a press conference to accuse Zahid of leading the party’s MPs to support PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s bid to be prime minister in 2020.
In the past critics have noted that Tajuddin was unpopular not only among UMNO grassroots but also among the public at large for his antics, as shown by a wave of criticism for his behaviour at a press conference last year when two LRT trains crashed in Kuala Lumpur.
Tajuddin was accused of being rude and insensitive to the plight of LRT passengers and was subsequently sacked as chairman of Prasarana Malaysia Bhd, the rail operator.
He has also sparked criticism for his outbursts in the Dewan Rakyat and his use of crude language during debates.
“We will always have your back”
Despite Tajuddin’s seemingly uncanny ability to court controversy at almost every turn, Pasir Salak voters prefer to focus on his contributions to the community as well as his hands-on approach to many issues in his constituency, according to the aforementioned report by The Vibes.
Tajuddin was first elected MP in 2008 and defended the seat in the 2013 and 2018 general elections. Pasir Salak was an UMNO stronghold even before 2008.
A fishmonger told the news portal that while age could play a factor in Tajuddin’s re-nomination, he intends to vote for the lawmaker should UMNO decide to field him in the upcoming GE15.
“Age-wise, he is as old as my father. But when you talk about his service to the community, I can’t deny that. Never has he turned down anyone who invited him to a programme or wants to meet him,” he was reported as saying.
“If he still has the ability to fight for the youth and the rights of the Malay Muslims, please carry on. We will always have your back.”
Another Pasir Salak constituent interviewed by the news portal said Tajuddin is not only likeable among the Malay voters but also Chinese and Indians, who find him easy to communicate with.
“Tajuddin is good at winning people’s hearts. He has also provided much assistance. Also, here, there are many elderly voters who are very loyal. So, they will continue to support him.
“If there is a new candidate here, I don’t think people will be okay with that, even if he is endorsed by Tajuddin or is a prominent person. But if Tajuddin himself contests, then that’s okay,” he remarked.
Last week, the Election Commission (EC) officially announced that the country will go to the polls on Nov 19 while the nomination date falls on Nov 5, with early voting to be held on Nov 15. – Oct 26, 2022
Main pic credit: The Vibes
