PUTRAJAYA: Moves are underway for the entrance of Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Aziz to join PKR.
The Investment, Trade and Industry Minister is expected to leave Umno to join PKR.
Top level negotiations have already been completed for his entry into the new party.
In April, Tengku Zafrul quit as treasurer for Selangor Umno, citing differences of opinion and lack of direction.
He had said in statement shared via Facebook, that Selangor Umno needed strong leadership to make it the powerhouse that it once was.
The announcement was a strong statement that he no longer had any interest in Umno.
The entry into PKR does not come as a surprise that Tengku Zafrul has worked well with the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He is regarded as an asset in the Cabinet.
Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, meanwhile, has also expressed privately of his intention to seek a federal post.
In 2022, he defeated the former Selangor MB Datuk Seri Azmin Ali to capture the Gombak parliament seat.
Top PKR officials said it would be a natural leadership progression for Amirudin.
It is not clear how Tengku Zafrul would be able to use his experience in the party but certainly he will be an asset at federal or state level.
His term as a senator will end in December, 2025.
The next general election must be held by 2027 but speculations are that it could be called in 2026.
It is uncertain when the official announcement of Tengku Zafrul joining PKR will be made.
The PKR secretary-general Fuziah Salleh has reportedly said there are no special pathways to join the party.
She reportedly said anyone wishing to join the party, including Tengku Zafrul Aziz must follow the standard procedures.
But within some senior Umno officials, they would have already heard talks of Tengku Zafrul wanting to join PKR.
“It is important a proper narrative be made in the announcement as he will still be in the Unity Government,” one official said.
