KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz says political positioning takes a back seat to nation-building, as he plays down the need for a safe parliamentary seat in the next general election.
Speaking on the Trick Lama podcast, hosted by Big Boom Media Group editor-in-chief Terence Fernandez and co-hosted by group chief executive Datuk Zainul Arifin and group executive director Datuk Ahirudin Attan, better known as Rocky Bru, Zafrul said he is prepared to take on any seat offered.
“If I get a seat, that is good enough. No one rejects a safe seat — but for me, contributing is what matters most,” he said.
The former finance minister, who narrowly lost the Kuala Selangor parliamentary seat by just 1,000 votes to current Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad in the 2022 general election, said contributing to the country does not necessarily require holding a parliamentary position.
“To contribute, you need to be in Parliament. But if there are many other ways to help and be involved in nation-building, you do not have to be an MP to contribute at the highest level. If you cannot, then you continue your work and help in other ways,” he said.
Reflecting on his political journey and the challenges of moving from Umno to PKR, Zafrul insisted that his decision was voluntary.
“First of all, I do not think it is correct to say that I was lured by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. It was I who wanted to join PKR in August last year.
“Of course, I was the Kota Raja division chief and a member of the Umno Supreme Council. In fact, I am still engaged with the Umno president, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, and we remain on good terms,” he explained.
He also addressed perceptions of political rivalries, noting that relationships in politics are rarely permanent.
“In Umno, my brother is still the division chief in Bangsar–Pantai. I still have family members and friends in Umno. Even when I was already in PKR as a minister, my political secretary was from Umno. Because in politics, as you know, there are no permanent enemies,” Zafrul said. — January 16, 2026