Tengku Zafrul remains politically ambitious but chances look slim, say analysts

SHAH ALAM - International Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz is politically ambitious, but his chance to win the Umno supreme council seat may be slim, expert says.

Singapore Institute of International Affairs senior fellow Dr Oh Ei Sun said that Tengku Zafrul contesting for the supreme council seat was a way of him levelling up in Umno.

"Tengku Zafrul remains politically ambitious, and gaining a seat in the supreme council is one way of upping himself in Umno," he said when asked why Tengku Zafrul was eager to contest for the supreme council seat.

Meanwhile, Universiti Putra Malaysia political analyst Datuk Prof Dr Jayum said if Tengku Zafrul won the supreme council seat, it would revive his political career.

However, Jayum said Tengku Zafrul's winning chances were slim.

"Chances are slim for Tengku Zafrul as he does not have grassroots support.

"He shot into the limelight when he was Finance Minister based on his corporate experience.

"He wasn't political prior to that, at least the public does not know who Tengku Zafrul was before that," he said.

Commenting further, National Council of Professors' senior fellow Professor Datuk Dr Jeniri Amir said Tengku Zafrul is taking politics as a serious topic, also the reason why he is contesting for the supreme council seat.

"Tengku Zafrul is taking politics seriously, so he is contesting the seat.

"He is relatively young, dynamic and can go far with the support of other political leaders.

"Tengku Zafrul will able to contribute meaningfully to the development of the party," he opined.

Tengku Zafrul has expressed his intention to contest the Umno Supreme Council member position in the coming party election.

He said the move was significant to build a political "base".