Zafrul, Shahril possible GE15 candidates in Selangor

PETALING JAYA: Selangor Umno is not ruling out the possibility of proposing “heavyweights” such as finance minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz and Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan as candidates for the next general election (GE15).

Selangor Umno chief Noh Omar said he also agreed with calls by party veterans for other “young and credible” candidates such as Supreme Council member Isham Jalil to be picked as candidates.

“We also have great young leaders such as Umno information chief and Youth vice-chairman Shahril Sufian Hamdan, who is also the prime minister’s economic adviser,” he was quoted as saying in Kosmo.

“Selangor also has other young leaders who can be fielded, such as Selangor Umno Youth chief Rizam Ismail and also Imran Tamrin,” said Noh, who is also entrepreneur development and cooperatives minister.

Previously, observers said the finance ministry’s “adoption” of the Kuala Selangor district and Tengku Zafrul’s frequent visits to the area were clear signs that he could be contesting the parliamentary seat on an Umno ticket in GE15.

However, he has drawn flak from party colleagues, with the Kuala Selangor Umno division urging members to snub programmes involving Tengku Zafrul, and party vice-president Khaled Nordin telling him to focus on the economy instead.

Tengku Zafrul has however found some support in Sungai Besar Umno division chief Jamal Yunos, who proposed that the finance minister be nominated Barisan Nasional’s Selangor menteri besar candidate for GE15. — Free Malaysia Today