A Pejuang leader has slammed the appointment of Tengku Zafrul Aziz as international trade and industry minister (Miti) in Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Cabinet, questioning his intentions.
Pejuang international affairs bureau chief Tariq Ismail Mustafa, taking to Facebook, asked what guarantee Malaysians had that Tengku Zafrul had the nation’s best interests at heart.
“Is the appointed minister free from any allegations relating to the RM600 billion scandal involving the eighth prime minister, the Pandora Papers scandal and other claims made against him throughout the election campaign period?”
Tengku Zafrul previously served as the finance minister in the governments led by former prime ministers Muhyiddin Yassin and Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
“I believe that even prostitutes choose their customers because from what I’ve heard, Tengku Zafrul lobbies for himself shamelessly. It’s sad to see a man give up his dignity for a position,” said Tariq.
He asked if Tengku Zafrul would prioritise the needs of Malaysian companies in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
Tariq also took a dig at Anwar for succumbing to pressure to proceed with such “confusing” appointments, including that of Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as deputy prime minister.
Zahid has been charged with 47 counts of corruption, criminal breach of trust and money laundering.
“If Anwar can be forced to submit to pressure from within the country, what will then happen when he is unable to handle the pressure put on him by foreign powers?”
Earlier, former Miti minister Rafidah Aziz also questioned Anwar’s decision in appointing Tengku Zafrul to the Cabinet.
She said the newly formed Cabinet’s credibility would be affected by the appointment of Tengku Zafrul as a senator just to make him Miti minister, adding that there were more suitable people for the position. – FMT