Umno respects Tengku Zafrul's decision to leave party, says Tok Mat
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan respects the decision of Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz to leave the party and pursue a political direction more aligned with his personal views.
Mohamad said the move was neither surprising nor unusual, given the increasingly dynamic and diverse political landscape in the country.
He said every individual has the right to choose their political path, adding that Umno will continue to move forward, focusing on rebuilding the party's strength and championing the people's interests.
The Foreign Minister said Umno has never relied on any single individual, as the party was built on grassroots strength, a spirit of struggle and the trust of the people.
'People come and go, and that's the nature of politics. What matters is that the struggle must go on,' said in a Facebook post today.
Mohamad also expressed appreciation for Tengku Zafrul's contributions during his tenure in the government under Umno's banner.
He said Tengku Zafrul, who is Investment, Trade and Industry Minister, had played a significant role as a technocrat contributing to the country's economic and financial sectors.
Yesterday, Tengku Zafrul announced in a Facebook post that he had resigned from Umno and expressed his intention to join Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
6 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Anwar's unity coalition faces ‘ultimate test' of coalition unity
Anwar Ibrahim's unity coalition could face its biggest test following the controversies involving Rafizi Ramli and Tengku Zafrul Aziz. PETALING JAYA : With two ministers quitting and one exiting Umno with the hope of joining PKR, an analyst believes that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim faces his biggest test yet to keep the peace in his unity government. Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid of Universiti Sains Malaysia said Cabinet changes are certainly in order, especially for the economy and environment portfolios relinquished by PKR's Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad. However, he said Tengku Zafrul's resignation from Umno and application to join Anwar's own party could trigger ill will between Umno and PKR, which are among the major component parties of the unity government. He said Anwar must be bold in tackling grouses head-on and ensure that the fundamental understanding of the unity coalition must not be harmed just because of one leader defecting to an allied party. 'If the prime minister thinks it's appropriate to go for a major reshuffle, then so be it. But he must act boldly, even if he needs to switch portfolios between parties, such that not one party can claim a ministerial position as its absolute right. 'This may be the prime minister's ultimate test as the leader of a government that foregrounds unity as its main trait,' he told FMT. On the other hand, political analyst Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani of ADA Southeast Asia said Anwar's major challenge was looking for suitable candidates to fill the minister posts under PKR's quota. He said Tengku Zafrul risked becoming a mere 'placeholder minister' if he was not dropped in a Cabinet reshuffle, since his tenure as senator ends at the end of the year. 'Anwar is currently facing difficulties finding suitable candidates for the vacant ministerial positions from the available pool of PKR leaders,' he said. Fauzi said a by-election in a comfortable mixed seat could be easily called to allow Tengku Zafrul to be elected an MP and retain his ministership. While some may deem such a move unethical, it is not illegal, he pointed out. 'The only issue with this is Anwar's flagging popularity among the PKR rank and file due to the Rafizi saga, and Tengku Zafrul's own weak grassroots politics, which may lead people to question why sacrifices should be made for him.' Rafizi and Nik Nazmi quit their Cabinet posts on Wednesday following their defeats in the PKR central leadership elections, where they lost their posts of party deputy president and vice-president respectively. Two days later, Tengku Zafrul announced his resignation from Umno while voicing his intention to join PKR, saying he had conveyed this to Anwar, the PKR president. This led to multiple Umno leaders warning PKR against accepting the senator as a member, as well as calls for Tengku Zafrul to step down as the investment, trade and industry minister. Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also a deputy prime minister, also urged Anwar to ensure Umno retains its quota of seven ministers in the Cabinet. Fauzi believed the matter could be resolved at the unity government secretariat council, adding that Anwar and Zahid's 'mentor-mentee' relationship was almost the bedrock of the unity government. While the prime minister will need to manage the optics in the eyes of Umno members, Fauzi said Anwar might have a tougher time pacifying members of his own party discontent over Rafizi's ousting, due to the perception that the PKR president had a hand in it. However, Asrul did not expect Umno members to be particularly antagonised about Tengku Zafrul's departure, saying the ministerial post was a bigger factor to the party. 'His departure is unlikely to cause much pain for Umno, as Tengku Zafrul was not very popular among the party's grassroots and local leaders,' he said.
The Star
6 hours ago
- The Star
Rafizi: Where do you draw the line with Zafrul's PKR bid?
AMPANG: Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz's move from Umno to PKR should be avoided, as it may unleash a tide of uncertainty within the unity government, says Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli ( pic ). The outgoing Economy Minister said the unity government agreement, which he helped draft, contains no clear rules on parties accepting each other's members. 'This is a grey area. The agreement doesn't state whether it's allowed or not. 'But I believe Umno's concern stems from the desire to maintain harmony among parties within the unity government. 'This is something that should be avoided, as it could open a door to consequences we can't foresee,' he told reporters when met at the Madani Youth Carnival 2.0 here yesterday. To maintain harmony within the unity government, Rafizi suggested that top party leaders meet and discuss the matter. 'If one Umno member joins, how do you draw the line? These are matters that will eventually have to be discussed at the unity government level,' he added. Rafizi declined to speculate on Tengku Zafrul's possible entry into PKR. 'Better to ask Tengku Zafrul himself. Ask him what his plans are. If you're asking about PKR's plans, ask the new PKR leadership. My decisions have nothing to do with Tengku Zafrul, PKR, Umno or the unity government,' he said. When asked whether PKR would be open to reciprocal party-hopping if other parties began targeting PKR leaders, Rafizi said such questions should be directed to the top leadership. 'That question should be asked to the central leadership – the president, deputy president and others. I'm just a division chief.' To another question, Rafizi revealed that he declined an offer to be appointed as a second deputy president after he failed to defend his post against Nurul Izzah Anwar in the recently-concluded PKR election. 'I've made it clear from the beginning that I won't be accepting any offers. That's already known. 'In fact, when Nurul Izzah met me the other day, she proposed the idea of appointing me as a deputy president, but even if it were a nominated deputy president or president's post, I'm not interested,' he said. Rafizi stressed that his decision was not about positions, but about the message and struggle he wants to uphold. 'I will remain a PKR member. That's a responsibility. Politics must be tied to the mandate and the people who lifted us. 'So if people ask why I'm staying on as Member of Parliament or why I haven't stepped down, the ones who elected me are the rakyat. I must respect their decision. 'Similarly, I'm still the division chief in Pandan and I must respect the mandate from the Pandan branch,' he said. He added that he was unaware of any offers to join other political parties and brushed off suggestions of forming his own.
The Star
6 hours ago
- The Star
Zafrul's ministership not affected
KUALA LUMPUR: Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz's application to join PKR has not been discussed by parties in the unity government yet, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. But, the Prime Minister said Tengku Zafrul's position as Investment, Trade and Industry Minister is not affected, given his good performance as a minister. 'Tengku Zafrul carried out his tasks as minister very well. Investments are in the hundreds of billions and he has led his ministry well. 'Now, he chose to apply (to PKR), we haven't discussed anything yet. Let him perform his haj pilgrimage first. Let us refrain from unhealthy interpretations. 'For PKR, we have to discuss this with our friends. But, his position as minister is not affected,' said Anwar when met after the closing ceremony of the KL International Book Fair (KLIBF) at the World Trade Centre yesterday. Anwar also denied there will be a Cabinet reshuffle. 'Two ministers have resigned, now give them time to reflect on what they want to do. Now they are on leave. I don't think we should preempt. 'The government is functioning as usual,' he said. Young minds, big brains: Anwar (left) supporting his grandson Sulaimaan Mohamad Khairul (seated, left) during a chess tournament at the KLIBF in Kuala Lumpur. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star At the same time, Anwar also said it is still too early to discuss remarks by Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi that another Cabinet position should be given to Barisan Nasional following Tengku Zafrul's resignation from the party. 'We have not discussed it. It is too early,' he added. On Saturday, Ahmad Zahid said Tengku Zafrul's exit would mean Umno is left with six ministers from the previous seven. On Friday, Tengku Zafrul said he was resigning as Umno supreme council member, as Kota Raja division leader and a party member. He said he will be starting the process of joining PKR. His decision comes two days after two Cabinet ministers from PKR resigned – Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli (Economy) and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability). On another matter, Anwar announced that some 400,000 teachers nationwide will be given book vouchers in an effort to promote the reading habit. The Prime Minister said last year, students attending KLIBF received book vouchers worth RM100. 'This year, we will give teachers as well. For next year, we have to look at how the economy does first,' he said in a closing speech for KLIBF yesterday. Anwar hoped that the initiative would inculcate the reading habit among teachers and students who attended the programme. He said more details on the book voucher would be announced soon by the Education Ministry.
