Investment, trade and industry minister Tengku Zafrul has dismissed speculation that he intends to vie for the Ampang parliamentary seat under PKR, saying that his decision to join the party was not motivated by plans to contest in the next general election.
Tengku Zafrul, who joined PKR in August and became a member of its Ampang division, said there was no agreement with party president Anwar Ibrahim for him to contest in the next general election (GE16).
He acknowledged receiving support from Ampang PKR to join the branch, but stressed that this does not guarantee him a candidacy.
“Before joining the party, I met with many people, including several state assemblymen and branch leaders. I also met many acquaintances from various branches.
“However, it must be emphasised that there is no agreement with the president that I will be given the chance to contest in GE16,” Utusan Malaysia quoted him as saying.
In February, political sources told FMT that Tengku Zafrul was expected to contest a Selangor seat at the next general election, with Ampang being his top choice, and Petaling Jaya and Pandan as other possibilities.
These rumours were later played down by Ampang PKR chief Syed Ahmad Abdul Rahman Alhadad, who said that such talk is expected in politics.
Until his resignation from Umno in late May, Tengku Zafrul was a member of the party’s Supreme Council and Kota Raja branch. He had also served as the Selangor chapter’s treasurer before stepping down in April 2024.
