KUALA LUMPUR — Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz has admitted discussing a move to PKR with the party, but stressed that no decision has been made.
The Umno Supreme Council member also said that although discussions have been held, they were in the early stages, and no talk of positions or of holding a by-election was mentioned.
“In choosing a suitable platform for my political struggle to develop the people and the country, I have discussed with PKR. I emphasise that in this initial discussion, there was no talk of positions at the state level, or for a by-election,” the senator and investment, trade and industry minister said on Facebook tonight.
“I have not made a decision regarding my membership of any party, although as mentioned by the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim), there have been discussions on this matter with the relevant party,” he added.
Tengku Zafrul said he was surprised at the statements by Umno leaders over speculation of his possible move to PKR, adding that despite it being in the news headlines, none in the Umno leadership had called him “to ask about the real issue”.
“In any case, I have not made any decisions yet. I adhere to the principle that when I make a decision, I will do it with great courtesy and officially inform the leadership of my party,” the former CIMB Bank CEO said.
Anwar earlier today confirmed that PKR has held talks in the early stages with Tengku Zafrul about his potential move to PKR.
Umno has taken the speculation negatively, with its party secretary-general Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki saying it would never allow such “poaching” between parties in the unity government.
Deputy Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday urged allies in the unity government not to accept members from coalition partners.
Not being an elected representative, Tengku Zafrul was made a senator and brought into government as finance minister under the Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin administration in 2020.
His senatorship was renewed for a second term in December 2022, under Anwar’s unity government, and expires next year. He cannot be appointed senator again as the Federal Constitution only allows senators to serve two terms. – December 15, 2024