KUALA LUMPUR – Padang Rengas MP Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz says it is a pity that speculation is rife over where Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz will contest in the coming general election, even though community engagement is part of the finance minister’s job.
Nazri told The Vibes that he is empathetic towards Tengku Zafrul and that the latter was merely carrying out his duties as a minister during several community engagements in Selangor in the past weeks.
“I don’t get why party members are attacking him. He is merely doing his job.
“It is also a pity that people speculated that he will be contesting wherever he visits. He is also doing his job as a party man.”
Nazri also said Tengku Zafrul is an Umno member and has been with the party for quite some time.
On the possibility of the senator running in his Padang Rengas parliamentary seat, Nazri neither denied nor confirmed the rumours but said that such matters are under the purview of the party leadership.
“As to where he will be contesting, that is up to the leadership. It is not proper for me to say but Tengku Zafrul is a good friend of mine.”
Tengku Zafrul has come under fire from the Umno rank and file in recent weeks, as well as several Selangor Umno branch leaders claiming that the minister is eyeing contesting a seat in the state.
Previously, Selangor Umno chief Datuk Seri Noh Omar defended Tengku Zafrul, saying the latter was merely attending events in his capacity as finance minister.
The Vibes reported that Tengku Zafrul is eyeing Padang Rengas as Nazri will not be contesting in the coming general election, according to Umno insiders.
They alluded to Nazri’s willingness to aid Tengku Zafrul to strengthen his political influence. – The Vibes, May 26, 2022