Bersatu man slams Zafrul after speakers from MoF agencies address event graced by Zahid

A Bersatu leader has taken Tengku Zafrul Aziz to task after two agencies under the purview of his finance ministry accepted invitations to share a stage with Ahmad Zahid Hamidi despite the Umno president's multiple corruption charges in court. 

Wan Saiful Wan Jan was referring to a recent forum on tax policy in Putrajaya, organised by a little-known think tank which last year controversially invited convicted former leader Najib Razak to speak at a forum on democracy.

The one-day event on Monday, dubbed the "Malaysia Tax Policy Forum", had named Zahid to give the closing address. 

The speakers had included Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) chief executive Mohd Nizom Sairi who gave the opening address, and customs director-general Zazuli Johan who was represented by senior customs officer Roszita Dim in a luncheon address.

Zahid's speech was read by Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary-general Zambry Abdul Kadir.

"Who would have thought that Zafrul would be complicit in cleansing Zahid's image by letting two agencies under the finance ministry, namely LHDN and customs, speak at the same meeting as Zahid at the 'Malaysia Tax Policy Forum'?" asked Wan Saiful.

Zahid is currently on trial for 47 charges of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering involving tens of millions of ringgit belonging to a charitable foundation.

Wan Saiful also criticised Zafrul's recent move to embrace Umno, where he was praised by Zahid, reminding the former banker that he was picked to head the finance ministry by former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin because of his non-involvement in party politics.

"Who would have thought that Zafrul would happily smile when Zahid announced that he would bring 'sweeteners' for Umno?" he said, referring to Zahid's statement welcoming Zafrul to join Umno's fight to return to power in Selangor.

Zafrul headed the CIMB Group before he was brought in by Muhyiddin to lead the finance ministry in the wake of the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government in early 2020.

He continued to hold the post after Muhyiddin's resignation in August last year.

Last week, he was named as the BN treasurer in Selangor, in a move seen as preparing the warchest for Umno's bid to wrest back control of the state after losing it more than a decade ago.

Wan Saiful also accused Zafrul of attempting to put a positive spin on issues linked to 1MDB and SRC International, citing his remarks in the Dewan Rakyat that debts linked to 1MDB were not directly linked to government liabilities.

"Wow... just a few days after taking a party position, seems he is already giving a positive spin," he added.