Puad: Zafrul may owe RM100m for 'party-hopping', PKR must be warned

Summary

• Umno’s Puad Zarkashi is questioning if Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz can be held liable for RM100 million for allegedly breaching his pledge as a BN candidate after resigning from Umno with intentions to join PKR.

• Puad will raise Zafrul’s potential move to PKR at the next Umno supreme council meeting and urges the party to review the pledge made by Zafrul.

• While Zafrul announced his resignation from Umno, the party has not received his letter, and PKR has stated they haven’t received his application to join their party

Umno supreme council member Puad Zarkashi has urged the party leadership to review whether Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz can be held liable for RM100 million in damages for allegedly breaching his pledge as a BN candidate.

This follows Zafrul’s announced resignation from Umno, with intentions reportedly to join PKR.

“I will raise the issue of Zafrul wanting to join PKR in the next supreme council meeting,” Puad said in a Facebook post today.

“I will urge Umno to review the pledge made when Zafrul was a BN candidate in the 15th general election. Can Zafrul be held liable to pay RM100 million in damages for party-hopping?” asked the Rengit assemblyperson.

Zafrul contested the Kuala Selangor seat under the BN banner in GE15 but lost to Pakatan Harapan’s Dzulkefly Ahmad.

He was first appointed as a senator and minister under the Perikatan Nasional administration in March 2020 and was reappointed in December 2022 under the current federal coalition government, with his senatorial term ending later this year.

‘Don’t blame Umno’

Puad further said Umno must also reprimand PKR president Anwar Ibrahim if Zafrul’s application is accepted.

“It’s not enough for Umno to merely express regret. There must have been prior confidential discussions that led to Zafrul joining PKR,” he said.

“PKR must be given a warning. If left unchecked, more backstabbing will happen. Don’t blame Umno if its members lose confidence in the prime minister.

“The unity government cooperation will be destroyed,” he added.

Separately, Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan thanked Zafrul for his contributions to Umno as a technocrat in the fields of economy and finance.

However, the Umno deputy president reminded how the party has never relied on any single individual.

"We are a party built on the strength of our grassroots, the spirit of our struggle, and the confidence of the people, not on names or positions.

"People come and go; that is the nature of politics. What matters is that this struggle must go on," he said.

"I do not see this as something extraordinary or shocking. It is part of an increasingly open and diverse political dynamic.

"Everyone has the right to choose their own path, and we choose to keep moving forward, focused on rebuilding the party’s strength and championing the people’s cause," said the Rembau Umno division chief.

‘Remain steadfast’

Zafrul announced his resignation from Umno last night, saying the decision was not made lightly and that he had sought advice from friends both inside and outside the party, including Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Following the announcement, Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the party has yet to receive Zafrul’s resignation letter.

He also said it was “highly inappropriate” for any party within the unity government to accept members from component parties without due consideration.

Commenting further, Mohamad urged all Umno members to remain steadfast and not allow the actions of one or two individuals to derail the party's direction.

"This party wasn’t built in a day, and it was not raised by just one figure. Umno is a trust that is far greater than that.

We have far more important work – to unite, to improve, and to restore the people’s trust in us.

"I wish Zafrul all the best, and we pray for even better days ahead for Umno," said the former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar.

Meanwhile, PKR secretary-general Fuziah Salleh said Zafrul’s application to join the party has not been received.

She added that any such application would go through the usual process, including deliberation by the party’s central leadership council.

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