A shot in the arm for PKR with Tengku Zafrul
THERE isn't going to be any by-election called to make way for Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Aziz to contest in Selangor.
There is no compelling reason for anyone to make way immediately for the Investment, Trade and Industry Minister, who has announced his decision to quit Umno and plans to join PKR.
His term as a Senator will only expire at the end of the year, which means he still has about six months to go as minister.
At this point, all talk that he is eyeing a Selangor state seat is mere speculation by the media. Why not a safe parliamentary seat in Kuala Lumpur where the options are wider and better?
Selangor Mentri Besar, Datuk Seri Amiruddin Shari has already said he is remaining as the Mentri Besar. It is also no secret that the Selangor palace expects the Mentri Besar to complete his full term as chief executive of the state.
Whether the newly-elected PKR vice-president will decide to focus instead on a parliamentary seat in the next general election, expected to be held within two years, is another matter.
But as of now, there is no likelihood of any change in Selangor.
There has been much debate over Tengku Zafrul's next political plan. Umno is understandably upset that the party would lose a Federal Cabinet post and there have been accusations that he is not a loyal member of the party.
Amidst all the noise, the harsh reality is that Selangor Umno is in the doldrums. It hasn't recovered from its beating in the last general election and seems to be heading nowhere. Umno contested in 22 seats in the 2022 General Election, and lost all.
Tengku Zafrul himself lost to Amanah's Datuk Seri Dr Zulkefly Ahmad in the Kuala Selangor parliamentary seat.
The political prospects for Selangor Umno haven't improved and despite the hue and cry over Tengku Zafrul's resignation, no one has a clue as to how Selangor Umno can recover its lost seats.
While there have also been brickbats over whether a newbie deserves a ticket to contest for PKR, no one has disputed Tengku Zafrul's capability.
Let's face it, all parties have fielded young and new faces in every election. It has never been about the length of a candidate's membership in the party.
As Malaysia navigates a critical juncture in its economic and political journey, the role of capable, forward-looking leaders has never been more crucial.
Tengku Zafrul entered politics as a technocrat but his alignment with the unity government has led to intense private conversations about his potential future within PKR.
Without a doubt, the Prime Minister is comfortable with his role as MITI Minister. This is especially so when Malaysia needs to negotiate with the unpredictable Trump administration and its retaliatory tariffs.
Like him or loath him, no one would dare say he has not done his job well as a Minister.
Should he proceed to join PKR - and if his application is approved - it will certainly strengthen Malaysia's reformist agenda as well as multi-racial politics.
Urbane, professional and approachable, he has global networking. At a personal level, he enjoys a wide circle of multi-racial contacts, friends and supporters.
More importantly, he brings a rare and valuable experience from both the public and private sectors.
He is a natural bridge between the government and private sectors, and we do need politicians who understand investments, digital transformation, green energy, the semi-conductor industry and industrial transformation.
Unlike some Malay politicians who thrive on race and religion, Tengku Zafrul has stayed above such communal agenda. Instead, he maintains a moderate voice and prefers to focus on results and policies.
Malaysians are sick and tired of chest thumping politicians who polarise the nation with the narrative of race and religion.
A stable and progressive government with plans for long-term reforms, and a performance-driven leadership, is needed more than ever.
Tengku Zafrul's entry into PKR will add depth to the party's economic branch and reinforce the image that the party places importance on competence.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
4 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Zahid's remarks on Tengku Zafrul show Umno ready to move on, says analyst
Analysts said Tengku Zafrul Aziz's departure will have little impact on Umno, likely because he is neither an MP nor a state assemblyman. PETALING JAYA : Recent remarks by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi that the party is not losing sleep over Tengku Zafrul Aziz's departure signal Umno's readiness to move on from the former Supreme Council member, according to a political analyst. Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya said Zahid's stance suggested that Umno, having weathered numerous political challenges, would not be shaken by the departure of any individual, even one as high-profile as the investment, trade and industry minister. 'This is a form of damage control to reinforce party loyalty over personal allegiance. Umno is making it clear that it no longer wants to be seen as dependent on technocrats or 'parachute candidates' who lack strong grassroots support, such as Tengku Zafrul in Kuala Selangor and later Kota Raja. 'It also shows that Umno is working to rebuild a grassroots-oriented identity rather than one rooted in political elites,' he told FMT. On June 2, Zahid said the party was not losing sleep over Tengku Zafrul's decision to quit and his intention to join PKR, adding that it was 'better he left if he couldn't remain loyal'. Tengku Zafrul failed to wrest the Kuala Selangor parliamentary seat during the 15th general election and currently serves as Umno's Kota Raja division chief. Awang Azman said Zahid's statement might not fully appease party leaders or grassroots members, as some still viewed Tengku Zafrul as a political opportunist who 'rode on the party's goodwill' without earning it through merit or sacrifice. 'To prevent this episode from becoming a political liability in the next general election, Umno must act wisely and consolidate its internal strength, not just to move on but also to move forward,' he said. He warned that mishandling the issue could give the impression of internal instability, urging firm action to prevent political opportunism from taking root in the party. 'Zahid's leadership must be followed by a strategy to repair internal perceptions,' he said. Meanwhile, Ariff Aizuddin Azlan of Universiti Teknologi Mara said Zahid's stance suggested that Tengku Zafrul's exit had little practical impact on Umno, likely because he holds no elected office. 'The Umno president must demonstrate political maturity, as whatever he says will be taken as principle and guidance. 'The best way to curb the polemics is by opening constructive dialogue channels with all stakeholders and working together to find solutions,' he said.
Free Malaysia Today
4 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Dr M to invite Umno members to join new Malay unity alliance
Dr Mahathir Mohamad at the press conference at the Perdana Leadership Foundation today. He is flanked by (from left) PN leaders Hamzah Zainudin, Muhyiddin Yassin and Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man. PUTRAJAYA : Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he will invite Umno members to join his new Malay unity alliance in an effort to 'restore Malay power' in the government. He stressed, however, that he was not inviting Umno as a party to join the alliance. 'I invite Umno members (to join the alliance) because they are Malays. If they agree with our efforts, we welcome them,' he told reporters at the Perdana Leadership Foundation here today. Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin, secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin and PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man were also present at the press conference. Mahathir said the big-tent alliance, which included PAS and Bersatu, would not be a formal political party for now. He said it would be a loose coalition or a 'big umbrella' to rally the Malays in an effort to save the community from what he described as political and economic decline. 'There are many groups trying to unite the Malays, but if there are too many, we end up split. We can only win if we are united. And we can only regain power if we win,' he said. Mahathir also claimed that Malays today faced many threats and were afraid to speak openly about their concerns because of government restrictions on free speech, including on race, royalty and religion (3Rs). He said the position of Bahasa Melayu as the national language was also being sidelined, as 'many other languages are being spoken'. He also claimed there was a lack of protection for Malay rights, despite such rights being enshrined in the constitution. 'The government stops us from talking about the Malays. It says that 3Rs are off-limits. Even what I say today may not be reported in the newspapers, only on social media. This is a cruel government. 'We just want the Malays to realise that their position is under threat. Many, especially in the rural areas, don't understand this danger. We must help them see it,' he said. He also said the alliance would begin preparing to contest future elections in an effort to return political control to the Malays. Last month, Mahathir said Malay-based parties, including PN, had failed to unite the community. He said Malay unity could not be achieved within the confines of political parties as they all 'have their own agendas'. The new alliance is not Mahathir's first attempt at uniting the Malays. In August 2022, he announced the formation of a coalition called Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) comprising Malay-based parties, NGOs, academics and professionals. In May 2023, Mahathir quit GTA after it failed to obtain voters' support during the 15th general election. GTA contested in 125 seats in the November 2022 nationwide polls but all its candidates, including Mahathir and his son Mukhriz, who is the Pejuang president, were defeated and lost their deposits. Pejuang also left GTA in January 2023 to focus on strengthening the party.
New Straits Times
6 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Dr M unveils new secretariat to 'unite Malays'
PUTRAJAYA: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has announced the formation of a new movement to unite the Malay community under a single umbrella. Dr Mahathir said the initiative was not about politics but a collective response to what he described as the growing challenges faced by Malays in the country. "For our meeting today, we came from two parties — Bersatu and Pas — not because of our respective parties, but because we believe the Malay community has problems," he said. He was speaking at a press conference on the Jawatankuasa Sekretariat Orang Melayu. Present were Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, and Pas deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man. Dr Mahathir said the secretariat aimed to unify Malays across political lines into a single movement. He said that fragmented efforts to unite Malays had only caused division and weakness. "If we are divided, we will fail. We can only regain power when we are united. "We believe the only way to solve Malay issues is for Malays to once again hold power in government." Asked about several grievances affecting the Malay community, Dr Mahathir cited the decline of the Malay language and issues related to Malay rights, among others. When asked if Umno would be invited to join the secretariat, Dr Mahathir replied: "I am not inviting Umno (as a party), but rather Umno members — not in their capacity as members, but as Malays. "If they are Malay, whether they belong to Umno or any other party, as long as they agree with our effort, we welcome them."
