PUTRAJAYA’S high-handed actions are not doing itself any favours ahead of the 14th general election, says Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

The Gua Musang MP touched on two recent incidents – the questioning of Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali by the police yesterday  and the last-minute change of the venue for a G25 public forum today – saying these actions would turn Malaysians away from Barisan Nasional.

“So it is not rewarding to the authorities to act harshly against organisations like this, and even going after Siti Hasmah, I don’t think it is the right thing, why not catch Dr Mahathir (Pakatan Harapan chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad)?

“It is going to create more unpleasant stories and minuses about the ruling party, which I think is of no benefit to the ruling party,” Ku Li said at a press conference in Shah Alam today.

Dr Siti Hasmah was questioned by Bukit Aman yesterday for allegedly violating the Peaceful Assembly Act over her speech on women against toxic politics at a Purple Walk four months ago.

The G25 public forum on “Reforms for a Progressive Malaysia” was supposed to be held in Universiti Malaya. However, organisers were turned down at the last minute by the university, forcing them to hold the forum at Ideal Convention Centre (IDCC) in Shah Alam.

“This incident here, where the forum organisers, who are academics, were asked to move from the hall that they had already paid a deposit and have informed (G25) members… suddenly it was given a short notice and the reservations were cancelled,” Ku Li said.

Commenting on whether Pakatan Harapan chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad would have an advantage in the next general election, Ku Li said it was a level playing field for everyone.

“Take, for instance, the case of Pakatan Harapan which has agreed for Dr Mahathir to be the interim prime minister if they get the support of the people in the next general election.

“I wish I have a crystal ball to tell you (whether Dr Mahathir is going to be good or bad), but then again, you see he was prime minister for 22 years.

“He has shown us what he is like, do you think leopards will change their spots, that is a big question for some people. Will he change with the guidance of all the other leaders from the party? We can never tell,” he said.

He said it is the voter’s right to choose whom to vote for or not vote for in the next general election, and that ultimately, it is the constitution that the nation is based upon.

“But it we don’t follow what is stated in the constitution there will be a lot of contradictions and friction among the people.

“Malaysians are smart people… if they feel that they want to vote for a party, then they will vote, if both parties are bad then they can choose not to vote, it is their right.”

Ku Li said although he was an “Umno champion” he would still criticise things that he does not agree with.

“I don’t represent the party in the Dewan Rakyat, I am a Gua Musang MP not an Umno MP.

“I don’t know whether I will contest again (in the next general election), I am 81 now,” he said. – January 27, 2018.