FINANCE Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz’s activities in Kuala Selangor for the past month have sparked speculation he is eyeing a parliamentary seat to make his election debut.

The senator, who is no stranger to such rumours, was appointed in March 2020 and given the finance portfolio by Muhyiddin Yassin, then the prime minister following Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) ouster from Putrajaya.

Tengku Zafrul, a former banker, was previously thought to be eyeing the Lembah Pantai seat, and then Kuala Pilah. In July last year, he was endorsed by former Federal Territories minister Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin to be Umno’s candidate in Lembah Pantai.

But speculation was rife that the former corporate man, who isn’t a member of any political party, was sponsored by Muhyiddin’s Bersatu and was rejected by Umno leaders in Lembah Pantai and Kuala Pilah, party people said.

However, his recent presence in Kuala Selangor, a seat held by Amanah’s Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, is getting better reception from Umno grassroots leaders there.

Local Umno leaders in Kuala Selangor recently told The Malaysian Insight they welcomed Tengku Zafrul’s presence in the area, and were of the view he could increase Umno’s influence there.

Some said he could even help Umno snatch the seat back from PH.

Kuala Selangor Umno Youth chief Norazley Yahya believes that at 48, the youthfulness of Tengku Zafrul, as opposed to older politicians, will be able to win the hearts of young voters, who are among the largest group of the Kuala Selangor electorate.

“Tengku Zafrul is a big name in the government today. With his youthful image, I do not see any problem if he contests to be a lawmaker, but he can also be a catalyst to attract the support of young and professional voters,” said Norazley.

Those aged 21 to 40 make up more than 31,500, or about 43% of the 73,372 voters in Kuala Selangor.

As a finance minister with a corporate background, Tengku Zafrul is qualified to represent Umno, Norazley added, referring to his experience climbing the corporate ladder in financial services and investment banking, to become chief executive and executive director of CIMB Group.

“Tengku Zafrul is a big name, which Umno needs to fight the incumbent,” he said, referring to Dzulkefly, who was health minister in the PH government.

Dzulkefly has defended the seat twice, first as a PAS lawmaker and then on an Amanah ticket in 2018.

Norazley said Tengku Zafrul might have less experience in politics, but he has aides who can help him.

“He himself also appears genuinely interested in joining politics,” Norazley said, adding that Tengku Zafrul’s younger brother, Tengku Zuhri, is Lembah Pantai Umno division deputy chief.

After Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob replaced Muhyiddin last year, Tengku Zafrul was retained as finance minister.

More importantly for the local Umno machinery, Tengku Zafrul was introduced by Selangor liaison chief Noh Omar recently during a Ramadan programme at a local mosque, Norazley said.

“It’s a sign that the Selangor Umno leadership is open to opportunities. I don’t think there will be any obstacles for Tengku Zafrul.”

Mohd Shaid Rosli, the assemblyman for Jeram, a state seat within the parliamentary constituency, said Tengku Zafrul would be a fresh face to enliven the contest for the seat in the next general election.

Shaid won the Jeram seat on a Bersatu ticket but defected to Pejuang after PH’s fall in 2020. He is said to be eyeing the Kuala Selangor parliamentary seat as well for the next general election.

“The more candidates, the merrier. It is good to give voters options,” Shaid said when met at his service centre in Puncak Alam.

He conceded that the area, which is undergoing rapid urbanisation and is populated by educated voters, is a good shot for Tengku Zafrul.

“People in Kuala Selangor are no longer kampung people. They are professionals and the villagers here have children who are more educated,” Shaid said, adding that Tengku Zafrul – with his corporate experience and elite image – might be able to appeal to this demographic.

However, Shaid said Tengku Zafrul’s weakness would be his lack of political influence among the grassroots here.

“He may have the corporate smarts, but we are not yet sure if he can connect with people on the ground.” – May 17, 2022.