S'gor Umno Youth slams Zafrul's party switch, urges him to quit as minister

Summary

• Selangor Umno Youth criticises Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz’s move to leave Umno and join PKR, calling it irresponsible and a poor precedent.

• Its chief Imran Tamrin insists Zafrul should also resign from his ministerial post, as his cabinet role was tied to his Umno position.

• Imran urges Umno’s top leadership to protect the party’s current representation in the unity government cabinet.

Selangor Umno Youth has lambasted Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz’s decision to quit Umno and join PKR as “irresponsible” and “disappointing”.

Its chief Imran Tamrin said the move, announced by Zafrul last week, should not be seen as a good example as it sets a bad precedent in local political practices.

Imran also reiterated calls for Zafrul to resign from his minister post, insisting that the latter’s resolve to step away from the BN component party should be translated into him relinquishing his cabinet position.

“(Zafrul’s) cabinet position was previously based on his role as a senior Umno leader.

“Now that he has left the party and joined PKR, he should also step down from his government post,” Imran told a press conference last night, as quoted by Sinar Harian.

Following Zafrul tendering his resignation letter to Umno and confirming his plans to join PKR, Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh had similarly said that the senator should have quit as minister too.

Akmal 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.

Safeguard Umno’s cabinet representation

Imran also called on Umno’s leadership to safeguard the party’s current representation in Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s cabinet - a goal Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had previously voiced his support for.

“We want the number of seven ministers and five deputy ministers from Umno to be maintained.

“This is important to preserve the party’s voice and balance in government,” Imran said.

Yesterday, Zahid said discussions on a potential cabinet reshuffle, if Zafrul’s ministerial position needs to be replaced, should be held internally within the coalition government.

“The absolute right to appoint ministers rests with the prime minister, and in this matter, it is better for us to hold internal discussions to avoid various interpretations,” the deputy prime minister added.

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