UMNO–PKR Ties In Unity Govt Intact Despite Tengku Zafrul's Exit
BATU PAHAT, May 31 (Bernama) -- UMNO's cooperation with Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) within the Unity Government remains intact despite Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz's resignation from the party, said Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
Johari, who is UMNO vice-president, said both parties must remain united in their efforts to ensure the country's political stability.
'For example, in government, I play a role in national development as a minister. Political developments are normal, but they should not affect the strength of our coalition within the Unity Government and the country,' he said.
bootstrap slideshow
He was speaking to reporters after officiating the MADANI Adopted Village (KAM) programme handover ceremony for the Plantation and Commodities Ministry (KPK) at Kampung Parit Bilal here today.
Yesterday, Tengku Zafrul, who is Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, announced his resignation as a UMNO Supreme Council member, Kota Raja division chief and party member.
On today's programme, Johari, who is also Plantation and Commodities Minister, said a total of RM2.5 million has been allocated to Kampung Parit Bilal and Kampung Parit Ahmad under the KPK MADANI Adopted Village initiative.
bootstrap slideshow
The funds will go toward implementing various development projects, including upgrading educational facilities, houses of worship and basic infrastructure, he said.
He said the initiative also involves strategic cooperation with relevant ministries and agencies, the Batu Pahat district office, Johor state development office, village development and security committees (JPKK) and local community leaders.
'Among the activities planned are entrepreneurship training, such as chocolate-making courses and outreach programmes under the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) MyCommodity initiative,' Johari added.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Free Malaysia Today
5 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
Zahid to strengthen bilateral ties during UK visit
LONDON: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi ( pic ) is undertaking a four-day working visit to Britain from June 1 to 4, in a move aimed at further strengthening Malaysia-UK bilateral ties. Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, will be accompanied by senior government officials from the Foreign Ministry, Rural and Regional Development Ministry, and Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry. The visit comes on the heels of recent high-level engagements between Malaysia and the UK, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's official visit in January and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof's visit in April, signalling Malaysia's commitment to enhancing multilateral and bilateral cooperation. High Commissioner of Malaysia to the United Kingdom Datuk Zakri Jaafar said Malaysia, as the Asean Chair for 2025, would use this opportunity to share the progress achieved under the theme 'Inclusivity and Sustainability' and to discuss future regional strategies and programmes. Among the key highlights of the visit is a bilateral meeting scheduled for today with UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed, Zakri told reporters at the Malaysian High Commission. 'The discussion will focus not only on enhancing Malaysia-UK cooperation but also delve into disaster risk management, aligning with Ahmad Zahid's role as Chair of the Central Disaster Management Committee.' On the same day, the Deputy Prime Minister is also slated to deliver a keynote address at the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Forum titled 'Malaysia's TVET Leadership in Asean Building Skills for a Shared Future' at University College London, Zakri said. 'The forum will gather representatives from Asean missions in the UK, students, university officials, academics and researchers. 'Later that evening, Ahmad Zahid will host a special gathering with approximately 120 Malaysian students based in the UK, reinforcing the government's engagement with the Malaysian diaspora,' he said. Zakri added that tomorrow, Ahmad Zahid would chair two roundtable meetings – one with UK-based franchise industry players and another with tourism sector agencies. 'He is also scheduled to officiate the UK launch of Visit Malaysia Year 2026, aimed at promoting Malaysia as a premier travel destination for the UK and broader European markets,' Zakri said. To support this promotional drive, the Deputy Prime Minister would participate in exclusive media interviews with prominent travel publications TTG Media and Wanderlust, he added. 'The visit will conclude with Ahmad Zahid's departure to Geneva on June 4 to continue his overseas engagements,' Zakri added.


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.