Ku Li: Bring ex-leaders back into Umno

Former Umno vice-president Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah feels that the party should attempt to get more of its former leaders back into the party.

He said while responding to former PKR strongman Ezam Mohd Nor's re-entry into the party on Wednesday.

And while he did not say that former party president Dr Mahathir Mohamad who had quit the party in protest last week, should return to Umno's fold, his remark was nevertheless directed at getting him back into the party.

"I feel that despite Tun (Dr Mahathir Mohamad) having left Umno, he still has Umno at heart and his criticism in the past was made in the interests of Umno and the country," he said to reporters in Kota Baru.

Mahathir, who had been critical of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's leadership, quit the party stating that he would only rejoin the party after Abdullah had stepped down as Umno president and prime minister.

Tengku Razaleigh also refuted the allegations of certain quarters that he would not contest the post of Umno president if Abdullah stepped down as Umno president and prime minister soon.

"That's not correct. I am offering myself (to contest the post of president) to help rejuvenate an unsettled situation in the country, not because Pak Lah (Abdullah) wants to step down or otherwise.

"Whatever it is, I would want to wait until December," he said. The Umno elections are scheduled for December when the party holds its general assembly.

Using Ezam to lure the young

Tengku Razaleigh also said that Ezam can help draw pro-opposition young people to Umno.

The Gua Musang member of parliament added that Ezam had great influence on national politics and had a following, particularly among the younger generation, when he was with PKR.

"I feel Ezam can help attract young people to Umno because he is an influential politician," he told said.

He also said that Ezam could give new ideas for the good of society and Umno.

"Umno can use Ezam if he is truly sincere in wanting to strive for the party," he said.