TENGKU Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz should not abuse his position as a federal minister for electoral advantage, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said.

He was responding to the finance minister’s announcement that he was “adopting” the Kuala Selangor district.

He said the term “adoption” was an abuse of authority.

“I’ve been an MP since 2008. I’ve never heard of any federal ministries ‘adopting’ a district.

“A ministry should be making policies and delivering services to the entire country, not just a given locality,” said the Seremban lawmaker.

Tengku Zafrul, a senator, hosted an event called Majlis Kenduri Rakyat in Puncak Alam yesterday, where he said that his ministry was “adopting” the Kuala Selangor district, which would help spur development in the area.

“Personally, I am a little sentimental with the Kuala Selangor district. There are many local potentials that can be developed and highlighted,” Tengku Zafrul told his audience, as quoted by Bernama.

The finance minister is rumoured to be eyeing the Kuala Selangor parliamentary seat in the 15th general election.

He also announced the cabinet’s the approval to construct a Northern Alignment East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) station in Puncak Alam. 

Tengku Zafrul said he had met chairmen of various residents’ associations in Puncak Alam and they have voiced the desire of the people for an ECRL station to be built in the locality.

To this, the former transport minister said it was wrong for Tengku Zafrul to make such an announcement.

“All railway-related matters should be announced by Land Public Transport Agency which is overseen by the Transport Ministry,” Loke added.

According to the Environmental Impact Assessment report for the ECRL project, the Puncak Alam station was listed as “provisional”, along with the Kapar station.

The ECRL project is Malaysia’s biggest infrastructure project, which is projected to cost RM50 billion, and will link the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia with Port Klang. – June 6, 2022.