Zafrul To Become Minister Level Adviser Kj Quips As Cabinet Exit Looms

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Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz said he hopes to continue contributing to the government after his final term as senator ends on Dec 2 - marking his exit from the current cabinet.
While he said he is willing to do this in any capacity, Khairy Jamaludin quipped that this might be through a "minister-level" adviser role.
"As a political analyst, my reading is that Zafrul will be appointed as a special adviser to the prime minister on the economy at the Prime Minister's Department.
“Maybe it will be a minister-level post, but it’s still being deliberated whether or not it'll come with the 'minister-level'.
"Maybe you'll also become a Khazanah Nasional director, or deputy chairperson," the former Umno politician said in jest.
Khairy and his co-host Shahril Hamdan Suffian were interviewing Zafrul (above) on their Keluar Sekejap podcast, the episode of which was released today.
‘Not as a minister’
Prior to Khairy's quip, Zafrul had said that in all seriousness, he had asked to serve in whatever capacity, but that it would not be a minister post.
He said he is still waiting for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to decide on what his future role might be.
Khairy JamaluddinSpeculation is rife that a cabinet reshuffle will be held soon to replace Zafrul and fill other vacancies in the cabinet.
The reshuffle also coincides with speculation that Khairy will return to Umno - which has also fueled rumours that the former health minister will be roped into the Anwar administration.
Quizzed on his political future, Zafrul - who quit Umno and joined PKR in August - said he would like to stay in politics and not return to the corporate world.
He also hopes to be fielded as a candidate in the next general election, whether it is at the state or Parliament level, with a preference for Selangor.
"(But) I cannot lose. I have to win. I think for me, if I lose a second time, I will 'keluar sekejap' (leave for a bit) or just quit forever. (Just admit) 'you're not made for (this)', you have to be honest with yourself.
"Sometimes you can contribute in other ways, through NGOs or such,” he said.
There has been speculation in the past that Zafrul may be fielded in a Selangor by-election, to pave the way for him to become menteri besar.
However, Zafrul has dismissed that there are any plans for him to contest in a by-election in the near future. - Mkini

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