HIS age and his health are Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah’s biggest concerns amid calls from the rank and file of Umno for him to contest the top spot in party elections.

The 81-year old said he was waiting for divine guidance although he acknowledged that he had a lot of support to contest the Umno presidency.

“I have listened to feedback from my family but I will not announce (my decision) tonight.

“The question is whether I am able to visit 190 parliamentary areas from time to time. It’s hard even to walk up these steps,” the former finance minister said at a dialogue at Kelab Sultan Sulaiman in Kuala Lumpur last night.

“Whatever it is I will perform istikarah prayers (to seek guidance from God) to consider this offer (to contest the presidency),” he told the audience in the event’s question-and-answer session.

About a dozen of the party’s over 190 divisions have been pushing Tengku Razaleigh, fondly known as Ku Li, to take over the helm to revive the party after its crushing defeat in the 14th general election.

He has been coy about taking up the challenge. If he accepts, he will likely face Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the party’s current deputy president.

Zahid has taken over the duties of president after Najib Razak took responsibility for the party’s disastrous electoral showing and resigned.

To date only Zahid has announced his intention to contest the presidency in the party’s polls which is scheduled on June 30. Candidates have until June 17 to announce their bids. 

At last night’s event, Tengku Razaleigh said Umno’s new leadership should consist of a combination of young and experienced personalities who had a clean record. 

“They should have clean record, they should have credibility so that there is no reason for the public to hate them.”

He continued to scoff at the new Pakatan Harapan government, saying the coalition had won the election only because it had won the war on public perception and made sweet but unrealistic promises.  

“They cannot fulfil their promises. How are they going to bring down the cost of petrol, abolish tolls or delay PTPTN (higher education loan) payments in the country’s current state?” 

He also expressed confidence Umno would rise again. 

“It is impossible for us to not come back. We are the biggest party in the Dewan Rakyat.” – June 10, 2018.