PETALING JAYA: Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz has been told to work hard if he wants to earn the support of party grassroots to contest in the 15th General Election (GE15).

       Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said the Finance Minister could ensure an Umno win but he needed the support of the grassroots if he wanted to contest a parliamentary seat.

       "But do the people of Kuala Selangor and the division's leadership accept his intention to contest?" Ahmad asked on Friday (June 17).

       "He will have to work hard to be a candidate and the final decision will be in the hands of the top leadership.

       The Finance Minister's 'adoption' of Kuala Selangor district which he frequently visited has drawn flak from party colleagues and Kuala Selangor Umno division urging members to snub his programmes.

       Party vice-president Datuk Seri Khalid Nordin told him to focus on the economy instead, although he found some support from Sungai Besar Umno division chief Datuk Seri Jamal Yunos who proposed Zafrul as the Selangor Menteri Besar candidate for GE15.