INTERNATIONAL Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz has confirmed he is prepared to assist his successor following the conclusion of his term as senator, and consequently his tenure as minister, next month.
Tengku Zafrul, appointed to the Dewan Negara in December 2022, said he had informed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of his intentions.
“It all depends on the prime minister, but I definitely cannot continue to serve as minister. The new minister, or whoever is in charge of MITI, will have to take full charge. What I can do is assist that minister during the transition,” he said at a press conference.
“I have already engaged the prime minister before this to state my intention to continue assisting. Now we are waiting for his decision. At this moment, there is no decision yet from the prime minister about my role after this,” Tengku Zafrul added.
When asked if he had any knowledge of his potential successor, he replied, “I can be very honest and say no.”
A former banker, Tengku Zafrul was first appointed senator in 2020 under then Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and has served in subsequent administrations including those of Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Anwar Ibrahim.
Media reports suggest a Cabinet reshuffle is expected in early December, potentially one of the most significant since the current government was formed, with former Umno leader Khairy Jamaluddin and Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani among names reportedly under consideration for ministerial positions. - November 13, 2025
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