IPOH: While a meeting was held with Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, his Umno membership issue was not discussed, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said he believes that Tengku Zafrul was still trying to find the right time to broach the subject.
"I can always meet him any time, (but) now the Dewan Rakyat is in session.
"If I am not outstation and is in Parliament, we can always set a date to meet either at his or my office," he said in a press conference after visiting Rozlita Abdullah, the wife of the late Ishsam Shahruddin, at her home in Desa Seri Ampang here on Tuesday (Feb 25).
Earlier this month, Tengku Zafrul said he would meet with the Umno president before making any decision about his future in the party, following speculation that the senator may quit Umno following claims that his political future was uncertain.
In particular, one version suggested that Tengku Zafrul had been invited to join PKR.
In April last year, Tengku Zafrul quit as Selangor Umno treasurer, citing differences of opinion and lack of direction.
On a separate matter, Ahmad Zahid said the government is open to criticisms following the Auditor-General's report that five government-linked agencies have suffered losses for three consecutive years.
"I have yet to fully go through the report in detail.
"We will be open-minded to accept any criticisms and also hope that the report can be debated by the MPs," he said.
When asked whether government-linked agencies can rely less on government funding, Ahmad Zahid said it would take time.
"We need to look at their earnings and the activities they are doing.
"Of course we would want all companies and their subsidiaries (to self-sustain).
"If they can have earnings in the form of dividends, these can be used to finance themselves or their parent companies," he added.
