PKR must be warned, UMNO must demand RM100 million from Tengku Zafrul - Puad
31/05/2025
According to Puad, UMNO should also review the undertaking signed by Tengku Zafrul when he was the BN candidate in GE15, including the possibility of claiming compensation of RM100 million if the action is considered as party hopping.
KUALA LUMPUR: UMNO has been urged to take stern action against the party's former Supreme Council (MKT) member, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz following his decision to quit the party and express his intention to join Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).
UMNO MKT member Datuk Dr Puad Zarkashi said UMNO should also review the undertaking signed by Tengku Zafrul when he was the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate in the 15th General Election (GE15), including the possibility of claiming compensation of RM100 million if the action is considered as party hopping.
"I will urge UMNO to review the promise made when Zafrul was a BN candidate. Can he be claimed to pay RM100 million in damages for party hopping?" he said in a statement on Facebook.
Dr Puad, who is also the Speaker of the Johor State Legislative Assembly (DUN) and the Rengit State Assemblyman, also stressed that the issue would be brought to the next MKT meeting.
"I will definitely raise the issue of Tengku Zafrul wanting to join PKR in the MKT meeting later," he added.
He added that UMNO cannot simply express regret if PKR accepts Tengku Zafrul's participation, but must take firm steps including publicly reprimanding the PKR president.
"There must be an initial confidential discussion which is the reason for Zafrul to join PKR. Not to clap one-sided. UMNO must reprimand the PKR president," he said in a Facebook post.
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Dr Puad also warned that the act of accepting former UMNO leaders without negotiations could undermine the trust of the grassroots in the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the stability of the Unity Government.
"PKR must be warned. If left unchecked, backstabbing will happen again. Don't blame UMNO if members lose faith in PMX. The cooperation of the Unity Government can be destroyed," he said.
On Friday night, Tengku Zafrul announced his resignation as the Kota Raja UMNO Division Chief and quit UMNO, thus ending his participation in the party since 1997.
Tengku Zafrul had previously admitted that there were initial discussions with PKR last December, but at that time no final decision was made on his participation.
