UMNO veteran Tengku Razaleigh Tengku Hamzah said his relatively low-key activities in politics will not deter party members from voting for him as Umno president.

He said he is one of the “cleanest chaps” in politics due to his absence.

“That is what people have been saying. They said they need a breath of fresh air, they need somebody who can impart this kind of life to the new generation,” he said in an interview with BFM radio station today.

When asked about his opponents in the presidential race – Umno’s acting president  Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin – Tengku Razaleigh said they are “good people”.

He said he had heard from the street that the public does not want leaders from the past administration.

“I was not involved because ever since I lost in my fight with Tun Mahathir (Mohamad) for leadership of the party in 1987, I stayed away and have decided not to get involved in competitive politics.

“So I’m considered as somebody who isn’t been associated with the past leadership, not with Abdullah (Badawi) or Najib (Razak),” he said. 

The Gua Musang MP also said he is interested in changing the party, where he stressed that it should be more democratic and accessible.

“The other thing I’m discussing with my colleagues perhaps we need to downsize the party, even at HQ level, and be more realistic with our administrative approaches. 

“And I think we need to groom young people to take over the leadership,” he said, adding that he will look after the young members so that they can take over after he has served as the president for one term. 

Tengku Razaleigh admitted that young people might not know him, as he came from a different generation, but that did not worry him.

“What is important is the country, and I think we need to give them (young people) the opportunity to empower themselves rather than letting oldies like me to solve for them and I think they are capable,” he added. 

The party’s presidential polls will held on June 30. – June 26, 2018.