Zafrul abandoning sinking ship to seek greener pastures - PAS leader

Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz left Umno because he realised the party is a sinking ship, said a PAS member.

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“Probably, he could already see Umno’s bleak future. Malay voters continue to reject it and cannot stomach its ties with DAP,” said Nurul Islam Yusoff.

“So, before the ‘Umno boat’ sinks, he chose to leave and approach PKR, citing it as more appropriate for him.

“My question now is, why can’t Umno’s grassroots members and middle-ranking leaders see this?” asked the director of PAS’ information committee research and policy department on Facebook today.

PAS information committee research and policy department director Nurul Islam Yusoff

Yesterday, Zafrul said he has tendered his resignation letter to Umno and announced his decision to join PKR.

The investment, trade, and industry minister said the decision was not made easily and he had sought advice from friends within and outside Umno, including party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Several Umno leaders have hurled brickbats at Zafrul over his decision, with party supreme council member Puad Zarkashi saying he could be liable for RM100 million in damages for allegedly breaching his pledge as a BN candidate.

Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh also said Zafrul should quit his ministerial position, adding party members were “absolutely delighted” by his departure.

Akmal barking up wrong tree

Taking pot shots at Akmal’s outburst, Nurul Islam reminded the former that Zafrul was not appointed based on party quota but through a senate appointment.

Instead, he said Akmal should call for Zahid to resign.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi

“People are leaving Umno because of Zahid. If Akmal wants someone to quit, it should be Zahid.

“Everyone knows this, including Akmal, but does he dare to make the call?

“Umno should be doing some self-reflection, not blaming those who leave,” Nurul Islam added.

Following Zafrul’s exit from Umno, Zahid expressed hope that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim would reinstate the party’s quota of seven ministers in the federal cabinet.

“To me, what’s more important is that Umno is represented by seven full ministers in the cabinet,” he was reported as saying. - Mkini