KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 — Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz said today the top Umno leadership has yet to indicate if he would stand in the Selangor state polls.
“I can confirm that until now I’ve not received any offer to [be a candidate] anywhere yet,” he told reporters at a Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Bhd event here.
Tengku Zafrul, once touted as Umno’s potential menteri besar candidate, is rumoured to eye Paya Jeras, one of the state legislature seats under the Kuala Selangor parliamentary constituency, where he campaigned and stood for Umno at last year’s general election.
Tengku Zafrul had lost to former health minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
Still, he was made a senator after Umno was called to form the government after the 15th general election saw no single political bloc gaining the majority to govern. Tengku Zafrul is now the minister of international investment, trade and industry.
When asked if he would personally want to contest for Umno, Tengku Zafrul was coy about it. But he said he would spend time helping the Pakatan Harapan-Umno alliance campaign.
“What I can confirm is that as a division chief I will continue to help the leadership so we’d win in Selangor, that’s the most important thing,” he said.
“So, whether or not I would contest I leave it to the leadership. I think they know best and I’ll abide by the call.”
PH was the incumbent in Selangor, Penang and Negeri Sembilan but it said it would go into the elections with Umno as allies. Negotiations over seat distribution between both sides had been smooth so far, according to its leaders.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the PH chairman, is set to launch the unity government’s election machinery this evening.
