
Too early to name Ampang GE candidate, says Altimet
He said the decision on candidacy would be left entirely to the party's top leadership, in line with the party's democratic traditions.
"Candidacy is not bound by residential address, branch membership or positions held in the party, but must comply with requirements set by the Election Commission," he said in a statement.
Syed Ahmad said the branch's strength lies in the diversity of ideas, energy and commitment from members of all backgrounds, united under principled leadership.
The Ampang division has recently been in the spotlight after Tengku Zafrul's formal entry into PKR.
On Aug 8, Zafrul confirmed that his application to join PKR was accepted.
Formerly an Umno Supreme Council member and Kota Raja division chief, Tengku Zafrul resigned from Umno in May before applying to join PKR under the Ampang branch.
The move has fuelled speculation over possible electoral ambitions in the constituency.
However, Altimet dismissed early talk of candidacy, urging members to focus on grassroots engagement and delivering Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's Reformasi agenda.
"The selection process will be transparent, fair, and inclusive of views from all levels of the party, I'm sure," he said.
"Our main priority is strengthening our work at the ground level and ensuring the people's welfare is safeguarded."
Tengku Zafrul's entry is seen as a potential boost to the branch's profile, bringing ministerial-level experience to its ranks.

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The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
SST exemption on agricultural products depends on country-to-country negotiations, says Tengku Zafrul
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The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Tasik Kenyir's suitability as data centre hub needs to be studied, says Zafrul
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Free Malaysia Today
8 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
‘Highly risky' to sacrifice Ampang MP for Tengku Zafrul, say analysts
Rodziah Ismail became Ampang MP in 2022 and was a three-term Selangor state assembly member, while Tengku Zafrul Aziz is a senator whose term expires in December. PETALING JAYA : It would be a highly risky move for PKR to drop Ampang MP Rodziah Ismail at the next general election to make way for the party's latest member, Tengku Zafrul Aziz, say two political analysts. Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said Rodziah's chances of being fielded again were very slim given that she had twice been defeated in her bid to lead Wanita PKR, and for being seen to be in the camp of former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli. However, he said fielding Tengku Zafrul for the Ampang seat in place of Rodziah was very risky given that he was practically an outsider, both in the party and the parliamentary constituency. He said Rodziah's victory in Ampang at the 2022 general election was because she has her own grassroots support in the area. 'So to put Tengku Zafrul there instead will be a very, very big gamble just as when he was in Kota Raja Umno – Tengku Zafrul has no grassroots support,' Azmi told FMT. 'He did not gain the respect of Umno members and I think it will be the same (in PKR); grassroots support is very important in Ampang.' Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid of Universiti Sains Malaysia said it would be unwise to take the risk of supplanting Rodziah for Tengku Zafrul if Rodziah was proven to have served the people of Ampang well. Fauzi said Tengku Zafrul would lack the opportunity and time to build the connections and networks with Ampang folk before the next general election (GE16), while Rodziah had already established herself. He also described Tengku Zafrul as a 'political unknown' despite being in Umno since 1997, and who gained prominence only when selected to be finance minister in Muhyiddin Yassin's Cabinet in 2020. 'What does that tell you about his interest in politics? It was sparked by an opportunity to be in the Cabinet, not by a genuine concern for the hardships of the downtrodden,' Fauzi said. 'Given that he made his career in the banking industry as a high-powered executive at a relatively young age, it will definitely take some time before he matures into a politician who could genuinely identify with the people he represents.' In the 2022 general election, Rodziah was moved from the Batu Tiga state seat in Shah Alam to reclaim Ampang from Zuraida Kamaruddin, who won it with PKR before joining Bersatu and later Parti Bangsa Malaysia. In February, political sources told FMT that Tengku Zafrul was expected to contest a Selangor seat at the next general election, with Ampang being his top choice, and Petaling Jaya and Pandan as other possibilities. Earlier this month, PKR confirmed that Tengku Zafrul had joined the party as a member in the Ampang division following his resignation from Umno. Rodziah then said she was ready to make way for another PKR candidate in Ampang at GE16, but expressed hope that she would be able to see out her current term. Azmi said he did not expect PKR to try to force a by-election so that Tengku Zafrul, a senator whose term expires in December, can get a parliamentary seat and remain a minister. 'It would be difficult to force a by-election because Rodziah definitely will not give way voluntarily.' Fauzi meanwhile saw such speculation as possibly testing the ground in Ampang, to gauge whether or not it would be a good idea to field Tengku Zafrul in place of Rodziah. 'We still have about two years to go before GE16, so there should be ample time for party strategists to assess the mood on the ground.' Don't drop Rodziah entirely Fauzi said PKR should not drop Rodziah from its list of GE16 candidates entirely but consider fielding her in another winnable seat, having served as an elected representative since 2008 and developed a grassroots following of her own. He said Rodziah, a former Selangor executive councillor, has won her elections with majorities of more than 3,000 votes each time. Rodziah served three terms as Selangor assembly member for Batu Tiga from 2008 to 2023 and was elected as MP for Ampang in 2022. 'Given that she's 61 this year, she has a good four to five years ahead of her, given the shelf life of Malaysian politicians,' he said, adding that her being aligned with Rafizi only boosts her credibility. 'Being a female politician with a strong character, her presence within the upper echelon of PKR women's section only adds vigour to the party's leadership profile, her siding with Rafizi's camp notwithstanding.' However, Azmi disagreed. He said Rodziah had become like a 'thorn in PKR's side' like Rafizi and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, and it would not be surprising if she was dropped at the next general election.