Tengku Razaleigh embodies the Umno dilemma

Sheridan Mahavera Sheridan Mahavera Updated 7 years ago · Published on 17 Jun 2018 7:00AM · 10 Comments

Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (left) announces his candidacy for the top Umno post, yesterday. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, June 17, 2018.

TENGKU Razaleigh Hamzah’s candidacy for Umno president sums up the party’s dilemma as it struggles to rebuild in post-GE14 Malaysia.

Umno needs new blood and new ideas to break away from its legacy of corruption and cronyism associated with former president Najib Razak, which had led to the party’s defeat at the May 9 polls and the loss of federal power.

But Razaleigh, its “change candidate”, is a leader from the past.

The 81-year-old Kelantan prince is a political veteran who had his day in the sun 23 years ago, when he led an opposition party called Semangat 46 that challenged Barisan Nasional in two elections and lost both times.

Ku Li, as he is popularly known, formed Semangat after he failed to unseat Dr Mahathir Mohamad as Umno president in 1987. 

Semangat contested in the 1990 and 1995 general elections, and was wiped out on its second outing. The party was disbanded and Razaleigh rejoined Umno, which was then led by his arch nemesis Dr Mahathir.

This time, the Gua Musang MP is running against Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the party’s interim president who was Najib’s top lieutenant and who carries the taint of his ex-boss’ scandals.

“This is Umno’s dilemma. It’s as if there is no real alternative (for a presidential candidate) for Umno to save itself. And that is sad,” said Hisommudin Bakar, of the think tank Ilham Centre.

“For many voters, Ku Li had disappeared from the political radar. I don’t think he is the best choice,” said Hisommudin.

Less baggage is more

Razaleigh’s supporters, however, believe he is the best the party has for now.

He has the combination of a clean record, relative to leaders in Najib’s cabinet, and leadership experience.

He himself said this when asked what he had to offer compared with Zahid.

“Members are demanding change,” he said, when announcing his candidacy yesterday.

A few days earlier at a dialogue session in Kuala Lumpur on June 12, Umno activists in their late 30s argued that Razaleigh was the best because he didn’t carry the baggage of Najib’s scandals.

“We need a president who is clean, who does not have all these issues that attract hatred from the public,” said Zulkifli, a Federal Territories Umno Youth member.

A Selangor Umno Youth leader who was at Razaleigh’s press conference yesterday said a groundswell was building among grassroots members who want to kick out not just Zahid but every  leader associated with Najib.

This includes senior leaders such as Annuar Musa, Mohamad Hasan and Khairy Jamaluddin, who were considered the party elite on the Supreme Council under Najib.

Annuar and Mohamad are contesting for the deputy president’s post while Khairy is bidding for one of three vice-presidents’ seats.

Sources within Umno claimed that Razaleigh has the support of most of the party’s 26 divisions in Johor and a clutch of other divisions in the Federal Territories, Terengganu and Selangor.

Mazlan Harun, who is former Petaling Jaya division chief, compared Razaleigh’s leadership pedigree to Zahid’s, with the former coming up the better.

“He has served since the time of (first prime minister) Tunku Abdul Rahman to (third prime minister) Tun Hussein Onn.

“Zahid’s experience only began during (fifth prime minister) Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib,” said Mazlan who said he would help Razaleigh campaign.

“He is old but capable and I think that he can bring change,” said Mazlan.

‘Yesterday’s man’

Razaleigh’s supporters look to his track record, which includes years of service in important ministries such as finance and international trade.

But others like an Umno division leader from the Federal Territories do not think Razaleigh is the best man for the new political landscape.

“We need new blood and new energy,” said the leader who requested anonymity.

A Supreme Council member also dismissed Razaleigh’s bid, saying the party could not hope to revive by relying on “yesterday’s man”.

Razaleigh’s record against Dr Mahathir will also weigh him down, said Hisommudin.

As a potential opposition leader, Razaleigh will inevitably be compared with the man who is now prime minister in the Pakatan Harapan government.

Not only was Razaleigh defeated by Dr Mahathir both in Umno and in two general elections, he had capitulated to the latter when rejoined Umno.

In other words, the man Umno members want to challenge Dr Mahathir is the man Dr Mahathir defeated and cowed time and again.

“Ku Li’s era has ended. He’s not going to inspire rejuvenation,” said Hisommudin. – June 17, 2018.

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Comments

  • The eternal enemies.

    Posted 7 years ago by Tan CH · Reply

  • Not sure if "embodies the UMNO delimma" is the right way to put it. More importantly what it says is UMNO really have a hard time changing - its NOT an issue except that a fallout of an UMNO that cannot reform nationally IS VERY SERIOUS..If UMNO does not lead to change, the members and leaders will go where next natural for them - MANY of them towards PAS, not directly but is some splinter form - union with it. THAT will make the politics of this country DANGEROUS.. Hadi's PAS is corrupt already and when they join with UMNO splinter group, it will get worst. They will spew hate and religo-politics that will split this country apart.

    So those who says Razaleigh cannot reform UMNO, better get worried rather than dismissive.

    Posted 7 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply

    • No doubt Hadi's PAS is a corrupt entity but the majority of their supporters sees the Islamic party can do no wrong even to the extend of working with Najib and supporting the kleptocratic government for re-election. Maybe its the right choice to gravitate around the ulama who can justify any collusion and wrong doing in the name of god.

      "Hadi's PAS is corrupt already and when they join with UMNO splinter group, it will get worst."

      Posted 7 years ago by Alenac c · Reply

  • The author Sheridan Mahavera forgot that Pakatan Harapan also need Mahathir as agent of change. Except that Ku Li have less baggage than Mahathir. If PH can do it, then I believe UMNO is on the right path if Ku Li won.

    Posted 7 years ago by KK Cheong · Reply

  • UMNO maybe down but not out. It needs someone who can rally the members, away from the kleptocracy that has demoralized both the party and the nation. Age is not a problem. Neither is past failures. What they need is someone with vision, integrity, moral standing and the experience to govern the country. He is, with his current standing could be the very answer to what UMNO needs for the good of the country.

    Posted 7 years ago by Seo ing · Reply

  • I was hoping for Khairy to contest the Presidency. Maybe he will in the next Party Election. I guess he is biding his time.

    Posted 7 years ago by Henry Mancini Jr · Reply

  • BRACE OURSELVES FOR (CIVIL) WAR, IF ANY! ONE COMMENT (POSTING ON MI) PRE-GE14 THREATENED WAR..

    Posted 7 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

    • UNLESS A FAKE ACCOUNT, THE ABOVE POST BEARS INVESTIGATION..

      Posted 7 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • All in Najibs cabinet is tainted and supported his corruption of all our country's important institutions and that includes Ku Li.

    Posted 7 years ago by Xuz ZG · Reply

  • For Umno to rise again, there is only one recourse, n that is to eradicate the culture of corruption, political patronage, arrogance, cronyism, racism, n religious intolerance. Nothing short of eradicating these malicious culture can we see Umno rise again

    Posted 7 years ago by Peace Maker · Reply