In a post on X on Sunday, Tengku Zafrul said that while he did have discussion with PKR to join the party, he has yet to decide on the matter. He also said that there were no discussions on positions at state level, or about by-elections being held.
He said that Malaysians are fed up with this frivolous and unhealthy politics, including baseless behind-the-scenes attacks.
“Many people are aware that I have highlighted these issues before in the context of Selangor UMNO, but unfortunately this matter still plagues them,” he said.
Tengku Zafrul who quit his position as Selangor UMNO treasurer in April of this year is a senator whose term is set to expire next year. A former banker, he became the finance minister in the aftermath of the “Sheraton Move” back in February 2020 via a senatorship.
He had lost the contest in the 15th general election but was then once again appointed as a senator who took up the portfolio of international trade and industry.
The term of office for a senator in Malaysia is three years, with a maximum of two terms.
UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had on Saturday criticised those who put personal interests ahead of party loyalty, while secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said that the party would never accept or allow the practice of party-hopping by members of any party within the Unity Government.
“The culture of poaching members or leaders from each other’s parties will only create disputes and conflicts, jeopardising the coalition’s stability,” he said in a statement on Sunday.
Azmi believed that Anwar would not sanction Zafrul’s move into the party after the backlash from UMNO.
“This is something that can bring about chaos and I think Anwar will think that it’s not worth the trouble. It is something that can threaten the unity of the federal government. Even though Tengku Zafrul is not considered to be a big asset for UMNO, it is about saving face and something that UMNO would not be able to accept,” he said.
Similarly Awang believed that there would be a lot of implications for Anwar if he allowed Tengku Zafrul to join the party, with those from PKR unhappy that Anwar would be promoting someone who was new.
“UMNO and BN made Anwar the prime minister and this is something that could have a big impact on the political landscape,” he told CNA, referring to the Barisan Nasional pact which used to rule Malaysia until it was ousted from power in 2018.
Anwar was sworn in as prime minister on Nov 24, 2022 after the 15th General Election failed to produce a clear winner and resulted in a hung parliament.
He leads a unity government comprising PH, previous ruling coalition Barisan Nasional, Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and Parti Warisan.
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