Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has denied that he was responsible for circulating a statutory declaration backing him to be prime minister.

Asked on the matter, Tengku Razaleigh, fondly known as Ku Li, said that he has no knowledge of it.

He said he was aware of the document, but only after it was posted online by an MP yesterday.

“I looked at it on Facebook, it looks like a letter addressed to the Agong, quoting my name as an example, not promoting me or naming me to be prime minister.

“It’s only using me as an example, (as a) person who has experience," he told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

DAP lawmaker Liew Chin Tong yesterday posted the unsigned statutory declaration on Facebook.

The document stated loss of confidence in Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and to back Ku Li to take over the leadership reins.

Liew posted the draft online after Umno MP Tajuddin Abdul Rahman rebutted Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s claim that the document was distributed among MPs.

Mahathir said Ku Li had circulated it believing he could secure sufficient number of MPs to withdraw support from Najib, but the Gua Musang did not live up to this promise.

Asked on the person responsible for preparing the document, Ku Li said he was not in the know on the matter.

“I’m not the author, if I was the author, I would not have mentioned my name in it,” he said.

Pointing out how people draft and write letters all the time, Ku Li said he had no control over people exercising their freedom.

Explaining the matter further, Ku Li said he was approached by several opposition members on ways to resolve the current predicament the country is in.

Ku Li said he told them there were three things that could be done, which is either through a general election, where the winner can then form a new government, by moving a motion of no-confidence or by removing the prime minister similar to what that had happened in Kedah recently.

“I told the opposition these are three ways you can make change, if you can muster enough support. But I’m not the man who is going to campaign (for it) as Dr Mahathir had said.

“I didn’t do anything, why should I do anything? I have not spoken to anyone, you can ask BN MPs. Even to the opposition, I just gave my view in a discussion over lunch,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ku Li denied that he still harboured hope to be a prime minister.

“No, I never stood for elections because I want to be prime minister. No.

“When I had the chance before - I am more senior than Mahathir in the party- I gave way to him,” he said, adding that he is happy with where he is today.

The Umno MP also maintained that this will be his last term as a lawmaker.

“Yes (last term as MP). I just did not want to say the same thing, I’m worried that people will quarrel over the seat,” he said.

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