Tengku Zafrul Says PKR Leadership Will Decide If He Contests Pandan In GE16

KUALA LUMPUR,MAY,2026 –Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz has declined to confirm whether he will contest the Pandan parliamentary seat in the 16th General Election, saying the decision rests entirely with PKR’s top leadership.

The senior political adviser to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said any decision on his possible candidacy in Pandan must be made by the party president and leadership. Speaking after attending a Wesak Day celebration in Taman Cheras Indah, Pandan Indah, Tengku Zafrul said he would leave the matter to PKR to decide.

When asked directly about the possibility of contesting in Pandan, Tengku Zafrul said the question should be directed to the PKR president. His response came amid growing speculation over PKR’s next move in the constituency following the departure of former Pandan MP Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli from the party.

Tengku Zafrul said he has been working closely with the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council to address community issues affecting residents in Pandan. He added that he is also cooperating with assemblymen in the area to help resolve local concerns raised by the public.

The political focus on Pandan intensified after PKR vice-president Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari announced that Tengku Zafrul had been appointed as the party’s parliamentary monitoring officer for both Pandan and Ampang. According to Bernama, Amirudin said the move was part of PKR’s effort to reorganise the constituency service centre and party machinery after Rafizi’s departure.

Amirudin also said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is PKR president, had taken over Pandan as his adopted parliamentary constituency following Rafizi’s exit. He said Tengku Zafrul was appointed to serve as the government’s representative and the Prime Minister’s representative in Pandan.

The appointment is seen as an important political development because Pandan has long been associated with Rafizi, who won the seat under PKR. Rafizi and former natural resources and environmental sustainability minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad announced on May 17 that they would leave PKR and vacate their Pandan and Setiawangsa parliamentary seats effective May 18.

Reuters reported that Rafizi and Nik Nazmi planned to join and take over the smaller Parti Bersama Malaysia, a move seen as part of a wider political realignment that could create fresh challenges for Anwar’s ruling coalition.

For PKR, the restructuring in Pandan appears aimed at ensuring that services to residents continue despite the sudden political vacancy. Amirudin said the situation was not entirely new for the party, citing previous cases involving former PKR leaders such as Datuk Seri Azmin Ali in Gombak and Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin in Ampang.

At the same event, Tengku Zafrul reportedly expressed hope for strong support from PKR leaders and grassroots members in Pandan. He said he needed guidance and advice, while giving his commitment to reach residents in both Ampang and Pandan regardless of background, religion or race.

The issue also drew comments from Pandan MCA chairman Datuk Leong Kok Wee, who claimed the area had yet to see meaningful infrastructure improvement despite being close to Kuala Lumpur. He questioned what would happen to local communities after the former MP announced his resignation from both the party and the seat.

Tengku Zafrul’s possible role in Pandan is likely to remain closely watched because of his growing involvement in Selangor politics. His appointment as monitoring officer gives him a formal role in strengthening PKR’s presence in the area, even though he has not confirmed any electoral ambition.

The Pandan seat is politically significant because it sits in Selangor, a key state for Pakatan Harapan and PKR. Any decision on a future candidate will likely be shaped by party strategy, grassroots acceptance, voter sentiment and the broader political impact of Rafizi’s departure.

For now, Tengku Zafrul’s message remains cautious. While he is prepared to serve and monitor issues in Pandan and Ampang, the question of whether he will contest in GE16 remains firmly in the hands of Anwar and the PKR leadership.