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UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has confirmed receiving Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz’s resignation letter from the party, calling the minister’s defection to PKR “unethical” given the current Unity Government arrangement.
Zahid said the letter was delivered to Umno executive secretary Datuk Mohd Sumali Reduan and confirmed to him this morning.
“When news of his departure from Umno surfaced last night, no formal resignation letter had been received by me, nor by the secretary-general or the executive secretary,” Harian Metro cited Zahid saying at a press conference on Saturday.
“This morning, I checked again, and the letter has now been submitted and acknowledged.”
Zahid added that Zafrul’s resignation, while anticipated, necessitates a review of Umno’s representation in the Cabinet.
“Umno now has only six ministers. If absolute discretion is exercised by the Prime Minister, then with Tengku Zafrul no longer in Umno, the party is justified in requesting another full ministerial post to restore its quota of seven,” he said.
Zahid noted that while Zafrul was first appointed as a minister in 2020 under the Perikatan Nasional government led by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, he was not then publicly representing Umno.
“Later, when one of our vice-presidents became Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob), the assumption was that the appointment came under Umno’s quota.
“Under the current Madani Unity Government, it was again perceived he represented Umno. He even claimed to have been a member since 1997, registered in Lembah Pantai,” Zahid said.
Responding to Umno supreme council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi’s suggestion that Zafrul be fined RM100 million for switching parties, Zahid said the matter would be referred to the party’s legal advisers.
“Umno parliamentary candidates signed an undertaking before the last general election. Although Tengku Zafrul lost his seat, he was reappointed to the Dewan Negara as a senator.
“I will examine with legal counsel whether his case falls under that agreement.”
Zahid revealed that Zafrul had discussed his potential exit three months ago during a parliamentary sitting, so the announcement was not unexpected.
“I have no objection to him leaving, but we must understand that we are part of a Unity Government. It is unethical for any party within the coalition to accept members from fellow component parties,” Zahid stated.
He endorsed a statement issued by Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki last night, which criticised any unilateral party crossovers within the Unity Government.
Asyraf said allowing such crossovers could disrupt harmony among coalition members, fuelling suspicions about loyalty, sincerity, and grassroots trust. - May 31, 2025