Kota Raja Umno disappointed Zafrul not fielded in state polls

Kota Raja Umno has expressed its disappointment that party supreme council member Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz was not fielded as a candidate in the upcoming state polls.

The Umno division had previously said they hoped to see Zafrul (above) contest in one of the state seats under the Kota Raja parliamentary constituency.

“Even though we obey the decision of the Selangor and central Umno leadership, the members of Kota Raja Umno would like to express our disappointment with the decision where we feel Zafrul was not given appropriate consideration or a chance to be considered as a candidate in this state election.

“The statement from the Umno deputy president makes it seem as if the Selangor Umno leadership did not consider Zafrul’s name as a candidate in this state election at all,” read a statement from Kota Raja Umno today.

The division also feels that Zafrul, as the treasurer to Selangor Umno and BN, should have been involved or informed of any administrative matters or development in the discussion on candidates.

There is also a worry that the Kota Raja Umno grassroots who were hoping to see the division chief as a candidate in the area may be affected by this decision.

Can attract youth voters

Describing him as a “winnable candidate”, Kota Raja Umno said the investment, trade and industry minister has a lot of experience and integrity and is dedicated to providing service to the people.

They also believed he can attract youth voters in the upcoming state election on Aug 12.

Zafrul was initially speculated to have been earmarked as the next Selangor menteri besar, with this state election supposedly paving the way.

Sources in Umno and Pakatan Harapan previously told Malaysiakini the initial plan was to place Zafrul in Sungai Kandis but PKR was allegedly unwilling to let go of the seat which it held for four consecutive terms.

The plan was then moved to Dusun Tua which is held by a DAP incumbent, and DAP was initially willing to make way after learning the plan was for Zafrul to contest there.

However, the situation turned sour after local DAP party machinery learnt that former Semenyih state assemblyperson Johan Abdul Aziz will be contesting instead.

The BN’s candidate announcement a few days ago confirmed that Johan will be contesting Dusun Tua, replacing DAP incumbent Edry Faizal Eddy Yusof.

Dusun Tua is a Malay-majority seat with about 63 percent Malay voters, followed by Chinese (28 percent), Indians (seven percent), and others (two percent).

Zafrul has since said he will campaign for other candidates instead, as he is a “party man”. - Mkini