Tengku Zafrul reiterated that his decision to leave Umno was not easy but was made after careful consideration of various factors.

“I would like to focus on my haj pilgrimage, and I leave the matter entirely to the wisdom of the prime minister,” he said, according to Bernama.

Tengku Zafrul, a senator, is the minister for investment, trade and industry. His Senate term ends in December.

Yesterday, Tengku Zafrul, who stated his desire to join Anwar’s PKR, was urged by Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh to step down from the Cabinet after deciding to leave Umno.

Earlier today, Umno president and deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi urged Anwar to ensure that Umno retains its quota of seven ministers in the Cabinet. With Tengku Zafrul’s exit from Umno, the party is left with six members in the Cabinet – Zahid, Mohamad Hasan, Johari Ghani, Khaled Nordin, Zambry Abdul Kadir and Azalina Othman Said.