On the 77th episode of the “Keluar Sekejap” podcast, led by Khairy Jamaluddin and co-hosted by Shahril Hamdan, the discussion centred around identifying a suitable candidate for the position of Prime Minister in the post-PMX era. Khairy tipped Tengku Zafrul, the Minister of International Trade & Industry (MITI), as a potential candidate.
In the podcast, both hosts agreed that Tengku Zafrul possesses independent and sound economic and intellectual thinking. They highlighted his adaptable “go with the flow” attitude, which they believed could secure majority votes within UMNO.
“The next Prime Minister is expected to emerge from an established and stable political party.”
Explaining his rationale for considering Tengku Zafrul as a future PM candidate, Khairy emphasized that the next Prime Minister post-PMX is likely to emerge from an established party.
“If we consider a suitable candidate from UMNO, someone without scandals, not a maverick – Tengku Zafrul is an acceptable candidate,” he stated.
“We want to see a generational change. Let’s give the new generation an opportunity post-PMX,” KJ exclaimed.
Responding to the reasoning behind Khairy’s perspective, Shahril described Tengku Zafrul as an individual easily accepted by UMNO. He acknowledged Zafrul’s positive reputation as a politician with economic prowess, analytical skills in economic matters, and a social media-friendly demeanour.
“I believe there will be a point where he needs to assert himself and showcase his political identity. Going with the flow is acceptable – 80% of the time, it can bring you to a certain degree. However, to reach the highest level, one must demonstrate a clear stance and dare to occupy positions that may attract criticism,” Shahril expressed.
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