KUALA LUMPUR: Former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz has passed a point of no return surrounding his rumoured defection from Umno to PKR.
"He has crossed the Rubicon, the die is cast," he said in commenting on Zafrul's response to the rumours.
Previously, Zafrul, the investment, trade, and industry minister, confirmed there were discussions with PKR on joining the party though he had not made a decision on the matter.
In an episode of the Keluar Sekejap podcast, Khairy said this indicated that Zafrul was already thinking about leaving.
"Now it is more about finding the best way to manage Umno and the relationship between Anwar and Zahid," he said, referring to PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his Umno counterpart Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Khairy said the anti-hopping law does not apply to Zafrul as it does not include members of the Dewan Negara.
"He's a senator. The law only applies to members of the Dewan Rakyat. However, this goes against an unwritten spirit of camaraderie within the unity government," he said.
"But I think it will happen. I think the faster he (Zafrul) does it, the better."
Khairy said Zafrul's term as senator ends in 2025 and he would have to relinquish his ministerial position.
His political future, Khairy said, would depend on whether he stands for election in a parliamentary or a state by-election.
"A swap with (Menteri Besar) Datuk Seri Amiruddin Shari, the current Selangor Menteri Besar, is a plausible scenario. Amiruddin could join the federal government, and Zafrul could take a state seat and become Menteri Besar," Khairy said.
Khairy said that Zafrul could also take a hiatus if he completes his switch to PKR.
On Dec 15, Anwar confirmed that there was a discussion with Zafrul, who is also an Umno Supreme Council member, on the possibility of the latter joining PKR.
Anwar said the discussions were still in the preliminary stages.