“I am prepared to step down to pave way for the younger generation. I have been thinking about this for over a year now.”

PETALING JAYA: Former health minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad, who is also the Kuala Selangor Member of Parliament, announced that he would retire to pave way for young people in Parti Amanah Negara in the coming election.

“I am prepared to step down to pave way for the younger generation. I have been thinking about this for over a year. It’s an open secret!

“I have informed the division and central leaders for them to find an appropriate substitute,” he said.

Dzulkefly stressed that the final decision was in the hands of party leadership.

He is nevertheless not retiring from politics completely, but is only not defending the Kuala Selangor seat to groom future leaders in the opposition.

“If the party needs me to defend Kuala Selangor, I will still abide by the decision,” he added.

The former health minister lamented that the “toxic” political environment of the country had turned many young people and members of the public away from politics.

“Politics is losing its appeal among the public. We need to rebuild it.

“I will stay on as Amanah’s strategy director for some time after the election. I hope I can help groom future leaders for the party.

“If politicians only think of getting rich and would not care about the people and the country, we will never have good leaders,” he said.

‘Don’t underestimate Zafrul’

Meanwhile, finance minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz is said to be keen on contesting the Kuala Selangor seat on Umno ticket.

It is said that the decision to field Tengku Zafrul in Kuala Selangor in the next election is almost final, as Selangor Umno liaison committee chairman Tan Sri Noh Omar has given his nod for the proposal.

Noh was recently seen accompanying Zafrul in events in Kuala Selangor.

On Umno’s plan to field Tengku Zafrul in Kuala Selangor, Dzulkefly said although the minister lacks political experience, he should never be underestimated.

“Everyone knows he is a new face in politics as he became finance minister only after being appointed a senator.

“While he is an experienced banker, managing people is a totally different matter.

“I would not say he is a heavyweight, but he is the finance minister!” said Dzulkefly, who won 43% of the votes in Kuala Selangor in 2018, defeating Umno’s incumbent Datuk Seri Dr Irmohizam Ibrahim.

He contested the seat three times, losing once to Irmohizam in 2013, but winning twice in 2008 and 2018.