Ku Li urges Umno to rethink its position in govt

Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has urged the party to reassess its role in government should the developments in the addendum decree case involving Najib Abdul Razak be found to contradict its commitment to defending the sovereignty of the Malay rulers.

Speaking during a press conference at his home, the former Gua Musang MP stressed that Umno’s leadership should also be prepared to relinquish their posts in government if doing so would allow the party to regain influence without depending on others.

“Umno has its own laws and Constitution that we should respect, follow and obey.

“Otherwise, Umno’s struggle all this while would be meaningless if it is merely for the sake of comfortable seats (positions),” said the veteran leader, affectionately known as Ku Li.

Tengku Razaleigh also expressed disappointment with Umno’s top leadership, which he said appeared not to have taken any follow-up action after the Kuala Lumpur High Court rejected Najib’s application to be placed under house arrest.

He said that to date, the party leadership had shown no intention of convening a top-level meeting to review its position following the decision.

“To this day, we have not heard of Umno proposing to hold a top-level meeting to review its position on the decision made by the court.

“This is a decision that Umno, as a party that helped form the current unity government, needs to take. Because without the involvement, support and MPs from Umno, this government could not have been formed,” he said.

Calls to leave

Previously, there were calls for Umno to leave the Anwar Ibrahim-led government, following their disappointment with the development of Najib’s case.

Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh had openly urged the party to withdraw its support from the government, stating that it was better to be a dignified opposition than to continue being “insulted”.

Tengku Razaleigh shared the same sentiment, urging the party’s leadership at the divisional and branch levels to speak out on the matters that had become the talk of the country, especially among party members.

“So that makes us wonder why this is not happening. We do not think those who were given positions, including political ones from the collaboration, have turned their backs on their responsibilities to the people and the party… (maybe) because (to them), their position or (those they held) in government were (far more) important, perhaps.

“I do not know, but I don’t think that this is the main thing. But anyway, this matter is being talked about everywhere in the country and should be given attention by at least the divisional and branch levels.

“I hope the divisions will not remain silent (and that they should) express their sadness or frustrations against these efforts that cannot be carried out,” said Tengku Razaleigh.

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