Should have quit as minister too, Umno's Akmal tells Zafrul

Summary

• Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh says Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz should have resigned as a minister too, adding that his departure leaves Umno members “absolutely delighted.”

• Zafrul resigned from all Umno roles and announced plans to join PKR, saying the decision came after careful thought and advice.

• His move fuels talk of a cabinet reshuffle, especially with his senate term ending in December, and recent ministerial resignations involving Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli and Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh today said that Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz should have also resigned from his cabinet position following his decision to leave Umno and seek a new political journey in PKR.

On his Facebook page, Akmal (above) said that Zafrul’s exit from Umno has left its members “absolutely delighted,” adding that Zafrul had come into the party uninvited in the first place.

“(He) should have resigned from his ministerial post as well.

“And to PKR, may you welcome Zafrul’s application to join your party, which will no doubt serve as a testament to the ‘loyalty’ of the friendship between Umno and PKR.

“Umno members are absolutely delighted by this news. He came uninvited, and his departure is not mourned. Umno is a party for all of us,” he added.

Resignation tendered

Zafrul, who is the investment, trade and industry minister, tendered his resignation letter to Umno and announced his decision to join PKR just moments earlier.

Zafrul, who is presently a senator, said the decision was not made easily and he had sought viewpoints and advice from friends both within and outside Umno, including party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“Today, I submitted my resignation letter to the Umno leadership. In that letter, I stated my decision to resign as a member of the supreme council, Kota Raja Umno division chief and Umno member.”

He said he had ruminated deeply on the decision as he had been an Umno member since 1997.

Zafrul said he has communicated his intention to join PKR to party president Anwar Ibrahim and secretary-general Fuziah Salleh.

He added that he will undergo the standard application process to become a PKR member.

Cabinet reshuffle rumours

This comes amid reignited speculation of a cabinet shuffle after two PKR ministers - Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli and Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad - resigned from their cabinet posts.

Rumours of a cabinet reshuffle had come up as DAP and PKR held internal elections in the first half of the year.

This is because Zafrul will be stepping down as a senator in mid-December after serving out the maximum two terms.

In December, Anwar confirmed there were discussions within the party about Zafrul joining them.

However, Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the party would never allow party hopping among members of the federal coalition government.

On Feb 10, Zafrul said he would discuss it with Zahid before deciding. Then, Zahid advised Zafrul not to make a hasty decision about leaving the party for PKR.

After that, Zafrul affirmed his commitment to Umno, saying his focus shifted from joining PKR to his own work as a minister.

No cabinet reshuffle while Rafizi, Nik Nazmi on leave - Anwar

Cabinet reshuffle needed following resignations, analysts say

Who’s in and out of Anwar’s next cabinet?

Post DAP polls, cabinet shuffle talk grows as Zafrul to exit in December

Umno not a 'political transit point', Puad warns Zafrul

Zafrul: My focus is on work, not joining PKR