Zahid wants Umno's cabinet quota restored after Zafrul's exit

Summary

• Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi requests that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim reinstate the party's quota of seven ministers in the federal cabinet after Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz resigned from Umno, leaving them with six ministers.

• Zahid states that Umno will consult its legal advisers to determine if Zafrul breached any agreement made during GE15 and whether Zafrul could be fined RM100 million for leaving the party.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has expressed hope that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will reinstate the party’s quota of seven ministers in the federal cabinet, following the resignation of Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz from Umno.

Zahid (above) said Zafrul’s departure meant Umno was now left with only six ministers and called for the vacant post to be filled by another party member.

“To me, what’s more important is that Umno is represented by seven full ministers in the cabinet.

“Although we are unsure whether Zafrul’s appointment (as minister) was on Umno’s ticket or otherwise, our assumption was that he was from Umno,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama today after attending an event in Sarawak.

“Now, Umno is left with only six full ministers. With Zafrul no longer in Umno, it is only fair that we request a seat to be given to us.”

Zafrul, who is the investment, trade and industry minister, announced his resignation from Umno yesterday, with intentions to join PKR.

Zahid also addressed conflicting reports about whether the party had received Zafrul’s resignation letter.

“Yesterday, when we checked, there was nothing. But this morning, we checked again and confirmed the letter was submitted to (Umno working secretary) Sumali (Reduan),” said the deputy prime minister.

Legal advisers consultation

Zahid added that the party would consult its legal advisers to determine if Zafrul had breached any agreement made when he was named as a BN candidate during the 15th general election.

“For GE15 candidates, if they leave the party, they can be fined RM100 million based on their statutory declarations. Zafrul contested, but lost, and was reappointed as a senator.

“So, I will need to consult Umno’s legal advisers first,” he said.

In his resignation announcement, Zafrul said the decision was not made lightly and that he had consulted friends both within and outside Umno, including Zahid.

Earlier today, Umno supreme council member Puad Zarkashi called on the party’s leadership to revisit whether Zafrul should be made to pay the RM100 million compensation for switching allegiance.

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

He was first appointed as a senator and minister in March 2020 under the Perikatan Nasional administration and reappointed in December 2022 under the current government. His senatorial term is expected to end later this year.

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