Zafrul's Umno exit won't undermine govt's efforts to strengthen economy, says Zahid
KUALA LUMPUR: Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz's decision to leave Umno will not affect the government's efforts to strengthen the national economy and empower the trade sector, according to Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister, who is also Umno president, said an individual's political leanings should not be mixed with the management and administration of an organisation, especially in the context of governing a country.
"We have a clear boundary (between politics and administration). We are professionals, and in line with that principle, I choose to respectfully acknowledge differing views,' he told reporters after opening the Women In Export Forum 2025 at the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) here on Tuesday (June 10).
Tengku Zafrul, who is Investment, Trade and Industry Minister, was present along with Matrade chairman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican aina Merican and Malaysian Organisation for Women and Family Affairs (Hawa) chairman Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.
Ahmad Zahid was responding to a question about the impact of Tengku Zafrul's resignation from Umno on the country's administration and the implementation of government policies.
Asked about his relationship with Tengku Zafrul, Ahmad Zahid briefly replied that everything was well.
In a statement on May 30, Tengku Zafrul announced that he had submitted his resignation letter to the Umno leadership.- Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sinar Daily
2 hours ago
- Sinar Daily
Scrap 3R laws, let the people speak
SHAH ALAM – Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that if he were ever to return to office, the first order of business would be to abolish laws restricting public discourse on race, religion and royalty (3R), which he believes are being misused to silence dissent. He argued that shutting down criticism only isolates leaders from the realities faced by the public. A long-time critic of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's administration, Tun Mahathir said the continued use of 3R laws — now and during Datuk Seri Najib Razak's time — has hindered open criticism and weakened democratic discourse. 'I must know what the people are thinking. If their mouths are kept closed, they might have a bad opinion of you, but you feel that they are okay. 'When you do not respond to the problems and feelings (expressed by the people), then the country cannot become developed, we need freedom of speech,' he reportedly said at a dialogue session in conjunction with the launch of his latest book 'A Conversation with Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad: A Legacy of Leadership and Vision' in Putrajaya. Although Mahathir, who turns 100 this July, brushed off the idea of leading the country again, he expressed a willingness to offer guidance if the current government is open to hearing him out. 'If I become Prime Minister again, God forbid, I know a few things I should do. 'Even if I am not the Prime Minister, if the government is willing to listen to this old man, I am willing to give some ideas,' he added during the event, which was moderated by Perdana Leadership Foundation trustee Vaseehar Hassan and economist Muhammed Abdul Khalid. A long-time critic of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's administration, Tun Mahathir said the continued use of 3R laws — now and during Datuk Seri Najib Razak's time — has hindered open criticism and weakened democratic discourse. 'You need the Opposition to point out where you have gone wrong. If we have a one-party state where that party is carried by its own ideas, they will have no way of knowing when a mistake has been made and correcting it. 'The management of a nation hinges on the freedom to exchange ideas. Leaders must respond to the realities around them to determine the best path forward,' he reportedly said. When asked about the possibility of Najib returning as prime minister, Mahathir rejected the idea outright, citing the former premier's leadership style and alleged tolerance for corruption. '(Before Najib assumed the role of Umno President), Umno had its own objectives, principally to struggle for the betterment of the people, country and religion. Under Najib, instead of focusing on (such struggles), he brought in another different objective; he was talking about 'cash is king'. '(Najib's objective) says corruption is alright, that this country can be ruled by corrupt practices, that you can become a Prime Minister simply by offering money. I do not think (Najib) would have changed much. 'He would still be thinking that the best way to become the Prime Minister is to give money to the people. If you do not have the money, then you can borrow it (before) stealing it. To me, that is not acceptable. 'If (Najib) does come back, I think he should just apologise and say 'sorry, I made a mistake,'' he said. The former Pekan MP is currently serving a prison sentence after the Federal Court in 2022 upheld his convictions in the SRC International case, part of the wider 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal. Though originally sentenced to 12 years and fined RM210 million, the Pardons Board reduced his sentence in February 2023 to six years and RM50 million.
The Sun
9 hours ago
- The Sun
Asean's ambition of becoming world's fourth biggest economy by 2030 well within reach: Tengku Zafrul
KUALA LUMPUR: Asean's ambition to become the world's fourth-largest economy by 2030 is well within reach, provided the region sustains an annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate between 4% and 5%. Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz highlighted the region's robust growth prospects at the official launch of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) Strategic Plan today. 'Our economists have thoroughly analysed the growth projections for all Asean economies under current conditions, and we are confident that the targets are indeed achievable,' he said. Tengku Zafrul noted that the Asean Secretariat projects regional GDP growth at 4.7% for 2025, as presented at the latest Asean Economic Ministers' Meeting. 'But things are very dynamic. It depends on the global economic situation. The IMF (International Monetary Fund) will also produce their forecast of global growth,' he said, stressing the need for vigilance amid shifting external factors. Tengku Zafrul emphasised the AEC Strategic Plan's role in keeping Asean's policies current and responsive to evolving business needs and emerging challenges. 'As the first instalment of this long-term vision, the plan serves as a comprehensive roadmap that outlines a clear and actionable path forward,' he said. The plan has been carefully crafted to implement the economic aspects of the Asean Community Vision 2045, leveraging the region's vast opportunities and potential. A key pillar of the plan is the establishment of a forward-looking digital economic framework, which is expected to double Asean's digital economy to US$2 trillion (RM4.5 trillion) by 2030. The focus on digital transformation, alongside sustained economic integration and resilience, positions Asean to not only achieve its growth targets but also to strengthen its global influence. On the domestic front, Tengku Zafrul sees positive signals from foreign investors in Malaysia, with no indication of existing investors withdrawing their commitments despite ongoing global uncertainties. 'So far, no existing investors have expressed any intention to exit Malaysia. They remain committed to their investments, and no cancellations have been announced.' However, he observed that new investors are adopting a more cautious, 'wait and see' approach, influenced by heightened geopolitical tensions – particularly between the United States and China – and broader global volatility. Looking ahead, Tengku Zafrul said his trade negotiations in Washington on June 18 will focus on reducing tariffs on Malaysian exports. 'The negotiations are essentially to address the current tariff structure, where the US has imposed a 24% tariff on Malaysia. Our first goal is to bring that down.' The second objective is to identify key sectors where Malaysia believes tariffs should be reduced even below the 10% floor, targeting industries important to both Malaysian exporters and the US economy. In April, the US government announced new tariff measures affecting more than 60 countries, including Malaysia. The implementation of these tariffs has been paused for 90 days to allow room for negotiations.
The Star
15 hours ago
- The Star
Budding technopreneurs have govt's full support, says Zahid
MELAKA: Students undertaking Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) should consider becoming technopreneurs, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. The Deputy Prime Minister said TVET offers promising opportunities in the entrepreneurship sector. Government support is essential in realising such potential, he said. 'We are grateful for the growing trust of parents (in TVET) today. That is why we must find new ways to nurture and transform the mindset of TVET students into future technopreneurs.' Ahmad Zahid said to date, TVET institutions under Majlis Amanah Rakyat have produced 50 TVET millionaires. Speaking at the 2025 National TVET Day celebration, he said as Malaysia moves towards becoming a developed nation, the involvement of all parties in driving the country's progress must be properly coordinated. This is especially to help groups that are often seen as marginalised within the country's education system, he said. 'For instance, the National TVET Council has taken the responsibility to recruit huffaz students to join TVET so that their future can be better secured,' he said, Bernama reported. The Deputy Prime Minister cited examples, including huffaz students enrolled at Universiti Kuala Lumpur's aerospace and maritime affairs faculties as well as at Universiti Tenaga Nasional. 'The response has been quite good (from the huffaz) and we welcome their contributions to building this country,' he said.
