Don't contest, Gua Musang Umno leaders tell Ku Li

Sixteen grassroots Umno leaders in the parliamentary constituency of Gua Musang have urged their long-term MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah not to defend his seat in the coming general election.

Berita Harian and Sinar Harian reported today that the call was made at a meeting yesterday, chaired by Umno Bandar Lama branch leader Ab Wahab Yunus and attended by three division leaders, six branch heads and representatives from Kesedar and Felda.

Ab Wahab claimed that Tengku Razaleigh no longer had an influence, both at the divisional and federal levels, and that the former finance minister seemed to have lost his stand on Umno and the BN.

"We, as leaders at the grassroots level, sometimes feel ashamed and sad over the statements made by Tengku Razaleigh, as they are in support of the opposition, especially on the issue of the Kelantan oil royalty and the Felda listing on Bursa Malaysia," he said.

Division leader Ab Aziz Mohamad described Ku Li as only putting forward his own personal struggle to seek for posts within the government or Umno, and was not concerned about the problems of the people, especially those in Gua Musang and the Kesedar settlers.

"This shows that Tengku Razaleigh is not a leader that we can depend, on like before. I ask him to honourably withdraw, and make way for a young leader to contest," Ab Aziz said.

Ab Wahab said their MP had been leading the Gua Musang division for 37 years and that a transformation in the party struggle was needed so that Umno could win in the coming election.

The leaders aid this in response to a report quoting Tengku Razaleigh as having said he was prepared to contest as an independent if he was not nominated for the Gua Musdang seat again by Umno and BN.

Yesterday, Sinar Harian quoted PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub as saying that Pakatan Rakyat was willing to negotiate with the Umno veteran if he was interested in defending Gua Musang on a Pakatan Rakyat ticket.

An aide to Tengku Razaleigh told Malaysiakini that the veteran Umno politician is presently outstation, and would not be able to comment on the issue.