UMNO Supreme Council member Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz has announced he is leaving Umno and will join PKR.

The Investment, Trade and Industry Minister made the announcement on social media on Friday (May 30) night.

Tengku Zafrul said he has tendered his resignation as an Umno supreme council member, a Kota Raja division leader and a party member.

“This is not an easy decision.

“Before making this decision, I have consulted the advice and views of my friends, from within and outside the party, as well as the party president himself.

Tengku Zafrul said he took some time to think about this decision, as he had been an Umno member since 1997.

“At the end, this decision was made after rationalising and taking into account various factors, especially regarding compatibility and suitability.

At the same time, Tengku Zafrul said he would begin the application process of becoming a PKR member.

“I have expressed intentions to the PKR president and secretary-general to join the party.

“I will follow the common application process to become a PKR member,” said Tengku Zafrul.

Tengku Zafrul also thanked everyone who had supported him during his time in Umno.

His term as a senator will end in December 2025.

PKR secretary-general Fuziah Salleh had said there was no special pathway to join the party and that everyone who wished to join the party – including Tengku Zafrul – must follow the standard procedure.