Three PMs already and counting: An insight into survivor extraordinaire, Tengku Zafrul
By Johan Abu Bakar
SINCE 2020, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz has branded himself as a technocrat who would bring a breath of fresh air into our politics.
Of late, the International Trade and Industry Minister grabbed the headlines with speculation that he’d quit UMNO by joining PKR.
But after all the hype, it’s fair to ask what’s so great about him, anyway?
Let’s start with his political trajectory. Recall that the former top banker began his political career in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration under Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Then, he found himself in Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri’s Barisan Nasional (BN) government and now he’s serving under Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government.
Grassroots support lacking
With whispers of him potentially jumping to PKR, Tengku Zafrul seems to have perfected the art of realigning himself with whoever holds power.
It’s not just about switching allegiances; it’s about how easily it’s done under the guise of “serving the rakyat”. But can a political shape shifter who’s spent more time manoeuvring political alliances than building grassroots trust really claim to represent the people?
Tengku Zafrul (right) with Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah
The rakyat’s opinion of Tengku Zafrul became crystal clear during the 15th General Election (GE15) when he lost in Kuala Selangor – a defeat that highlighted his inability to connect with voters despite an aggressive campaign.
Now, rumours suggest there may be a by-election just to make way for Tengku Zafrul to enter the Selangor state assembly and pave his way to becoming Menteri Besar (MB).
If true, this would be a wasteful exercise designed to satisfy elite political ambitions rather than serve the rakyat. Should taxpayer money really fund a by-election just to accommodate a man who couldn’t even win his own parliamentary seat?
Tengku Zafrul’s journey into politics has been smoothed by privilege. With royal connections, elite schooling and a résumé packed with corporate titles, he certainly checks all the boxes for a leader on paper. But what about on the ground?
Unlike politicians who have endured the school of hard knocks – grassroots struggles, electoral defeats and years of party-building – Tengku Zafrul has relied on appointments and privilege.
Who does he actually serve?
Let’s not kid ourselves that he’s leveraging on his royal bloodline and close ties to several palaces in the country to catapult himself politically.
During his tenure as finance minister, Tengku Zafrul was instrumental in defending contentious policies like the Single Wholesale Network (SWN) under Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB), a model which the Anwar administration had dismantled.
The rakyat’s opinion of Tengku Zafrul became crystal clear during the 15th General Election (GE15) when he lost in Kuala Selangor – a defeat that highlighted his inability to connect with voters despite an aggressive campaign.
Now, rumours suggest there may be a by-election just to make way for Tengku Zafrul to enter the Selangor state assembly and pave his way to becoming Menteri Besar (MB).
If true, this would be a wasteful exercise designed to satisfy elite political ambitions rather than serve the rakyat. Should taxpayer money really fund a by-election just to accommodate a man who couldn’t even win his own parliamentary seat?
Tengku Zafrul’s journey into politics has been smoothed by privilege. With royal connections, elite schooling and a résumé packed with corporate titles, he certainly checks all the boxes for a leader on paper. But what about on the ground?
Unlike politicians who have endured the school of hard knocks – grassroots struggles, electoral defeats and years of party-building – Tengku Zafrul has relied on appointments and privilege.
Who does he actually serve?
Let’s not kid ourselves that he’s leveraging on his royal bloodline and close ties to several palaces in the country to catapult himself politically.
During his tenure as finance minister, Tengku Zafrul was instrumental in defending contentious policies like the Single Wholesale Network (SWN) under Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB), a model which the Anwar administration had dismantled.
Tengku Zafrul (second from left) in his capacity as International Trade and Industry Minister in Shanghai with PM Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (far left) after inking the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with China
At the same time, questions remain over his involvement in approving programmes like Jana Wibawa which saw PN chairman Muhyiddin being charged in court for alleged wrongdoings yet Tengku Zafrul appears insulated despite helming the agency (MOF) that disbursed the funds.
The point is, Selangor is no stranger to capable leaders, hence the idea of displacing an existing Menteri Besar to accommodate Tengku Zafrul raises serious questions.
What makes him so indispensable that Malaysia’s most developed state must undergo a leadership reshuffle and potentially waste resources on a by-election? The rakyat deserves leaders who earn their positions, not those parachuted in through political backdoor deals.
Perhaps Tengku Zafrul is banking on his corporate polish and technocratic sheen to continue carrying him forward.
But in the rough-and-tumble world of Malaysian politics, charisma and relatability matter just as much as credentials.
Without grassroots support or a proven ability to connect with the people, Tengku Zafrul risks being remembered as a political appointee who never truly earned his place.
For all the talk of serving the rakyat, the question remains: who is really being served by Tengku Zafrul’s rise. – Dec 16, 2024
At the same time, questions remain over his involvement in approving programmes like Jana Wibawa which saw PN chairman Muhyiddin being charged in court for alleged wrongdoings yet Tengku Zafrul appears insulated despite helming the agency (MOF) that disbursed the funds.
The point is, Selangor is no stranger to capable leaders, hence the idea of displacing an existing Menteri Besar to accommodate Tengku Zafrul raises serious questions.
What makes him so indispensable that Malaysia’s most developed state must undergo a leadership reshuffle and potentially waste resources on a by-election? The rakyat deserves leaders who earn their positions, not those parachuted in through political backdoor deals.
Perhaps Tengku Zafrul is banking on his corporate polish and technocratic sheen to continue carrying him forward.
But in the rough-and-tumble world of Malaysian politics, charisma and relatability matter just as much as credentials.
Without grassroots support or a proven ability to connect with the people, Tengku Zafrul risks being remembered as a political appointee who never truly earned his place.
For all the talk of serving the rakyat, the question remains: who is really being served by Tengku Zafrul’s rise. – Dec 16, 2024
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kt comments:
Truth is Anwar really doesn't want him but has likely been told" to "terima" him into PKR, and as a minister, probably the MB. Likewise, Zahid would be happy to see the back fo him, wakakaka.
Only Akmal wants him to stay in UMNO 😂😂😂
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