SHAH ALAM - Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz continues to solidify his reputation as an opportunistic figure with significant influence in advancing his political ambitions.
Universiti Teknologi Mara political analyst Dr Abdul Aziz Azizam said despite Zafrul's loss in the last general election, his subsequent appointments to key government positions highlighted his strategic skills in maintaining relevance within Malaysia's political landscape.
"Many people were wondering about what had happened and the strategies that were currently at play.
"But at that point, anything was possible and we knew that Zafrul was an opportunistic figure with considerable influence in building his political career," he told Sinar Daily when contacted, today.
Aziz pointed to ongoing rumours suggesting that the Umno Supreme Council member might join PKR and potentially replace Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amiruddin Shari.
"For now, we had not received any information from the individual involved, but given the state of the government, I thought any unusual developments were possible," he said.
He said while such a transition could take time, the possibility of Zafrul's entry into PKR was not far-fetched.
Prime Minister and PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had recently confirmed that preliminary discussions had taken place regarding Zafrul’s potential inclusion in the party.
Anwar had also reiterated PKR's openness to welcoming new members, adding credibility to the ongoing speculation.
Pressure on the government and Opposition
Aziz further highlighted the potential consequences of this political maneuver on the country's current administration.
This was due to the readiness of the people to engage in a political strategy that could lead to elections.
"I think this would create some pressure and burden on the government, as funds would need to be spent for such purposes.
"This would likely face opposition internally and from the Opposition, especially since it went against what the Madani Government had advocated for — practicing thrift and prudence," he said.
The analyst pointed out that if Zafrul were to replace the Selangor Menteri Besar, it could create friction between PKR and Umno, two key parties in the coalition government.
He said this situation would not benefit Umno, but if PKR saw the strategic value in Zafrul, Umno might have no choice but to accept it.
"What was certain is that if this change happens, it would have long-term implications for the relationship between PKR and Umno, as well as the current government.
"Clearly, this situation did not benefit Umno. However, if PKR strategically saw the need for a figure like Zafrul at that moment, Umno might have no choice but to accept it," he added.
As a result, the analyst said there would be another episode that could lead to friction between Umno and PKR.
Aziz also speculated on the possibility of reciprocal negotiations between PKR and Umno, should Zafrul’s entry into PKR materialise.
He said this situation could present an opportunity for Umno to negotiate with PKR for a win-win arrangement.
However, at this point, he said it remained in the realm of speculation.
Meanwhile, O2 Research Malaysia chief researcher Anis Anwar Suhaimi said this situation stemmed from the outcome of the 15th General Election (GE15), where Zafrul did not secure the Kuala Selangor parliamentary seat, leading him to rely on a senatorial position for his political career.
"Had he either won in GE15 or been nominated during the Selangor state election, the current circumstances affecting Zafrul and by extension, the Umno-PKR relationship, might have been avoided," he said.
However, Anis said the extent to which this influenced the camaraderie within the unity government remained manageable since Zafrul's own statements demonstrated his understanding of organisational decorum within political parties.