KUALA LUMPUR: International Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz has been appointed as a member of the Umno supreme council (MT).
He took the oath of office before the MT meeting on Thursday night.
Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said, in a tweet, that Tengku Zafrul was appointed by Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
“The MT#UMNO meeting on Feb 16 started with Senator Tengku Zafrul taking the oath as an MT member appointed by the Umno president,” he said.
Meanwhile, Datuk Lokman Noor Adam has been reinstated in Umno.
In a Facebook post, he shared a letter issued on Thursday by the party secretary-general’s office stating that his expulsion as a party member had been annulled.
“In reference to your letter on Jan 3 (to appeal), it is hereby notified that the Umno supreme council meeting on Feb 16 has agreed to cancel your expulsion.
“Therefore, you are allowed to continue using the old membership number as stated,” read the letter.
Lokman said he was thankful for the news, which was conveyed to him in a phone call by deputy party president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
“Alhamdulillah, I have just received a call ... that the supreme council meeting tonight (Thursday) has nullified my expulsion.
“Now I’m back as a supreme council member. Thank you to the president, deputy president, supreme council members and everyone who prayed for me.
“Following this, my right to stand in elections has returned, Alhamdulillah,” he said.
On Feb 9, 2020, Umno sacked Lokman with the recommendation and approval of its political bureau.
Lokman, who was supreme council member prior to his expulsion, had criticised party president Dr Ahmad Zahid over alleged remarks that Umno must work with prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as PAS was doing so.
In Melaka, former Bersatu vice-president Datuk Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen stressed that he made up his mind to rejoin Umno before the 15th General Election (GE15), when it was unknown which party would govern the country.
He said his application to rejoin Umno was accepted and effective on March 18 this year, which is after the Umno elections, via the decision of the Umno supreme council meeting on Thursday.
Mohd Rafiq maintained that his rejoining Umno was not due to Umno’s position in the unity government.
“I am aware that my decision to join Umno is unpopular, disagreed by many, and will not be accepted by all parties.
“However, I am confident and believe that my challenging political journey from the beginning until today, including my struggle with Umno again, is fated,” he said in a statement yesterday.
He said he submitted his application a few weeks ago and he was determined and committed to helping the struggle with the central Umno leadership, Melaka Umno and Tangga Batu Umno Division.
Mohd Rafiq, who lost when contesting the Telok Mas state seat in the Melaka state election, decided to leave Bersatu after not being nominated as a candidate for GE15. — Bernama
