UMNO President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has asserted that the resignation of Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz from the party has not triggered any internal turmoil or conflict, dispelling speculation of unrest. According to Zahid, the party’s grassroots members have largely viewed Zafrul’s departure as fitting, especially considering what many perceive as a lack of strong allegiance to UMNO on his part.
Zahid, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister, noted that there were no signs of heightened tensions or dissatisfaction within the party over Zafrul’s move. He emphasized that loyalty is fundamental to UMNO, and if a member cannot commit wholeheartedly, stepping away is ultimately for the best. He also remarked that the former UMNO member is currently performing the Hajj, and wished him peace of mind during the pilgrimage.
These comments were made during a press conference in the United Kingdom, where Zahid is on a four-day working visit, leading Malaysia’s delegation. His remarks come shortly after Tengku Zafrul publicly announced via social media that he had submitted his resignation from UMNO with the intention of joining Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).
On the matter of Tengku Zafrul’s ministerial role in the cabinet, Zahid acknowledged that discussions regarding potential changes should remain within the internal framework of the Unity Government. He emphasized that the appointment and reshuffling of ministers fall solely under the authority of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Zahid urged that any such deliberations be conducted privately to prevent public misinterpretation and unnecessary speculation.
Previously, Zahid had expressed UMNO’s desire to maintain its agreed quota of seven full ministerial posts in the Federal Cabinet. With Tengku Zafrul’s departure from the party, questions have emerged about whether UMNO will seek to reclaim the vacated portfolio, reinforcing its representation within the Unity Government.
Despite the political shift, Zahid’s tone remained composed and firm, underscoring the party's resilience and continued focus on internal stability. The overall message was clear: UMNO sees Zafrul’s exit not as a setback, but rather a reflection of the party’s expectation of loyalty and alignment from those within its ranks.
FlyingBird (aicashflow7@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact creator@newswav.com.