However, he said Tengku Zafrul’s position as investment, trade and industry minister would not be affected.

“We have not discussed anything yet. Let him fulfil his haj first. We don’t need unhealthy speculation,” he said.

Anwar praised Tengku Zafrul, saying he had handled his duties as minister well.

“We have hundreds of billions in investments, much of them managed by him with the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation, his ministry and the government,” he said.

Yesterday, Tengku Zafrul said he had decided to leave his fate as a Cabinet minister to Anwar, following his exit from Umno.

He 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.

Tengku Zafrul was recently urged by Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh to step down from the Cabinet after deciding to leave Umno.

Yesterday, Umno president and deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi also 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.