Tengku Zafrul's GE15 pledge unenforceable, says Tok Mat
Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan said he could not see how the GE15 pledge could be enforced against Tengku Zafrul Aziz as he did not win the seat he contested.
PETALING JAYA : The review of a pledge signed by Tengku Zafrul Aziz when he was a Barisan Nasional candidate in the 15th general election cannot be enforced because he did not win in the election.
Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan said Tengku Zafrul was appointed as the investment, trade and industry minister in his capacity as a senator, Bernama reported.
'This matter is not included within the scope of the agreement because Tengku Zafrul did not win in the election.
'That pledge is made by any elected representative as a state assemblyman or an MP.
'If they win, the seat belongs to the party, not to the individual.
'The individual who becomes a candidate and wins signs many agreements, including reimbursing the costs incurred by the party and many other things.
'Tengku Zafrul did not win. He became a minister on the basis of being a senator. So I don't see how the pledge can be enforced against him,' he told reporters after a luncheon in Seremban today.
He was commenting on a statement by Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi, who urged the party to take stern action against Tengku Zafrul, who announced his departure from Umno to join PKR yesterday.
Puad also asked the party to review the pledge signed by Tengku Zafrul when he was a BN candidate in GE15. Tengku Zafrul lost in the election for the Kuala Selangor parliamentary seat.
Puad asked the party to study the possibility of demanding RM100 million in compensation if Tengku Zafrul's action is considered as party hopping.
Asked whether the resignation would affect Umno, Mohamad, who is also Rembau MP, said Tengku Zafrul did not hold a high position in the party and it would not have a significant impact on Umno.
Earlier today, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the party's legal team would review whether Tengku Zafrul had breached the agreement signed during GE15, which binds candidates to the party.
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