No departure or joining letter

Umno and PKR say they have no official news from Zafrul

PETALING JAYA: Umno has not received a resignation letter from Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz (photo), while the PKR claims not to have asked to join, say the leaders of both parties.

Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Tengku Zafrul, who is a member of the party’s supreme council and Kota Raja Umno leader, had not met him to express his intention to leave the party.

“So far, Tengku Zafrul has not put forward any application to leave Umno and join PKR.

“He has not met me, so we cannot confirm this matter,” he said after attending the fourth graduation ceremony of the Terengganu Central Development Authority College (Ketengah) yesterday ) in Kuala Lumpur.

In Pontian, PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil reiterated that no application had been received from Tengku Zafrul to join the party.

Fahmi, who is also communications minister and government spokesperson, said he met Tengku Zafrul during the Cabinet meeting on Friday but did not have the opportunity to ask him questions at this subject.

“He attended the Cabinet meeting, but the issue was not discussed there. This was only reported in the media,” he said during an event in Kampung Seri Bunian.

Asked about the possibility of Tengku Zafrul being given a special route into the party due to his position as Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Fahmi dismissed the idea.

On Friday, PKR secretary general Fuziah Salleh confirmed that no nomination had been submitted by Tengku Zafrul.

The Star reported yesterday that Tengku Zafrul, who quit his post as Selangor Umno treasurer, was set to leave the party to join PKR.

Negotiations at the highest level have already been completed for his entry into Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s party, according to informed sources.

When Tengku Zafrul left his position in Selangor Umno, this announcement was seen as a strong statement that he no longer had any interest in Umno.

He cited differences of opinion and a lack of direction to justify his decision.

In a statement shared via Facebook, he said Umno state needed strong leadership to return to the power it once was.

Meanwhile, Selangor opposition leader Datuk Seri Azmin Ali questioned the need for PKR to “import” new leaders from outside the party.

“Is PKR short of leaders in Selangor to run the state, so much so that they have to import ‘players’ from Umno to revive Selangor PKR?

“This is a big blow to Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, who is also PKR vice-president,” Azmin said.

He added that during Amirrudin’s tenure, Perikatan won “big” in the state elections by winning 21 state seats.

“Amirudin should be allowed to continue his term until the end to ensure he can govern properly,” Azmin said.