Report: Some BN big-wigs keen for Tengku Zafrul to lead Selangor state polls charge in 2023, claim sources

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1 — Caretaker finance minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz has long been rumoured to be the Umno candidate for the Kuala Selangor seat in the 15th general election (GE15).

However, The Malaysian Insight reported a Barisan Nasional (BN) source from the state as saying that some within the coalition preferred Tengku Zafrul to spearhead the campaign for the Selangor state election next year instead of trying to win a parliamentary seat now.

“Umno has picked almost 70 per cent to 80 per cent of its candidates but it is still quite undecided on Tengku Zafrul contesting in Kuala Selangor,” the source, who is a senior BN leader, was quoted as saying.

“He is quite popular in the constituency with his events as the finance minister. He is quite a regular there.

“The locals might be happy to have him but there are thoughts on using him to lead the charge for state polls next year. Maybe he is better suited to win back the state from PKR,” the source added.

The source said many Umno and state BN leadership believe the time had come for another leader to lead the campaign to win back the state as Selangor BN and Umno leader Tan Sri Noh Omar had failed to so far.

“Noh is the warlord in Selangor but it is perhaps time to move away from him if BN really wants to win the state.

“Giving a fresh face like Tengku Zafrul the challenge would be better as he would have newer ideas to defeat Pakatan Harapan (PH),” a state MIC leader was quoted as saying.

BN has failed to recapture Selangor from PH since 2008.

In order to concentrate on flood mitigation efforts for the monsoon season, Selangor has decided to hold its state polls next year like two other PH-ruled states.

However, BN is likely to take advantage of this to win back the state next year as the entire BN machinery can concentrate on the state polls.

The MIC man also said that Umno has no mentri besar candidate for the state and there are only old faces for the post.

He said Tengku Zafrul can chart the progress to ensure proper policies and plans to win back Selangor with his current appointment as state BN treasurer and Selangor BN manifesto chairman.

However, both the sources said it would be up to the Umno leadership to make a call on that.

“If as speculated it is Tengku Zafrul, then we will work hard to name him the MP,” said the BN man.

However, an Umno division leader told the news portal that they had been told that Tengku Zafrul was going to be the candidate for BN in Kuala Selangor.

“We have been told to be ready and to welcome him, and to ensure he wins,” he said.

A local MIC leader concurs, saying that while there were talks that MIC wanted the seat, it has been decided that Umno would put its candidate there.

“And we have been told it would be Tengku Zafrul,” he said, adding that if BN wins the coming polls, Tengku Zafrul may continue being a finance minister, which was good news for the constituency.

If Tengku Zafrul’s candidacy is confirmed for the seat, he could enter a four-cornered battle with Amanah incumbent Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad from PH, Mohd Shaid Rosli from Pejuang and a soon-to-be named Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate.

There are three state seats under Kuala Selangor constituency, namely Bukit Melawati, Ijok and Jeram.

The first two are held by PKR while Jeram is held by Pejuang’s Shaid.

The parliament constituency comprises of 66.1 per cent of Malay voters, followed by Indians (21.7 per cent) Chinese (12.5 per cent) and others (0.5 per cent).