COMMENT | Tajuddin's out, so who's next?

COMMENT | Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz deserves praise for making the bold decision to sack former Prasarana chairperson Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, immediately. It was not a difficult decision for Zafrul to make. It was either him, or Tajuddin.

If Tajuddin refused to resign, he would have dragged Zafrul (above) into the gutter, with his reputation in tatters and un-salvageable.

The Minister of Finance Incorporated is the sole shareholder in Prasarana, which owns a majority of Malaysia's public transport network.

In Tajuddin's train-wreck press conference (PC) on May 26, after the LRT incident on the night of May 24, he made no attempt to hide his lack of compassion for the crash victims, his lack of knowledge about his role as Prasarana's chairperson, his lack of understanding about PCs, his lack of humility, lack of morality and lack of respect for his own staff.

The PC was excruciating to watch, but the aftermath is revealing because of the way different groups, including the rakyat, reacted.

First is Finance Minister Zafrul. Some of us may not have much faith in the courts, our MPs, or the establishment, but every minister, MP, celebrity, politician and businessperson is fearful of the court of public opinion. Zafrul listened to the rakyat and did the right thing.

Tajuddin's swift removal is how things should be done in the government and civil service...