No tensions in Umno despite Tengku Zafrul's exit, says Zahid
Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the unity government will hold internal discussions over Tengku Zafrul Aziz's role as the investment, trade and industry minister.
PETALING JAYA : Tengku Zafrul Aziz's exit from Umno has not led to any tensions within the party, says its president, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Zahid said most of Umno's grassroots even believed Tengku Zafrul made the right decision to leave the party since he 'has no loyalty to it'.
'I don't see any indication of the 'temperature' rising in Umno. It's better for him to leave if he has no loyalty to the party.
'Don't disturb (Tengku Zafrul) because he's currently performing the haj. Hopefully, his mind will be filled with peace,' Zahid, who is also a deputy prime minister, was quoted as saying by Bernama.
The Barisan Nasional chairman said the unity government will hold internal discussions over Tengku Zafrul's role as investment, trade and industry minister, a post he was appointed to on Umno's quota.
'The appointment of ministers is at the absolute discretion of the prime minister. So it's better for us to hold internal discussions to avoid various interpretations,' he said.
Tengku Zafrul's exit from Umno, announced on Friday, has led to calls for him to step down as the investment, trade and industry minister. Zahid previously urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to ensure Umno had its quota of seven ministers restored.
Tengku Zafrul, whose senatorship expires at the end of the year, had said he would leave it to Anwar to decide on his Cabinet post.
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