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Ku Li welcomes possible return of KJ to Umno

‘Pave way for younger leadership to take over’ KUALA LUMPUR: Umno must pave the way for a younger generation of leaders to take over if it hopes to stay relevant and continue championing the interests of Malays and the nation, said Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. He said it is time for the party to recognise the growing need for youthful leadership with new ideas and renewed energy instead of allowing those in their sixties and seventies to continue dominating the political scene. “There seems to be no room for young leaders to rise. That’s the real problem,” he told theSun . Tengku Razaleigh recalled how, during his early days in politics, Malaysia’s founding leaders such as Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein and Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman gave opportunities to young leaders to prove their worth. “They knew that among the younger generation, there were those with strong and sometimes more radical ideas, people who could outshine the older generation. But they didn’t sideline us. Instead, they threw us into the tiger’s den and left us to survive on our own.” The veteran statesman, who joined politics in the 1960s, said he was sent to China during his early career to study the country’s development approach. He said the experience was part of government efforts to expose young leaders to the world and prepare them for future responsibilities. “Many of my peers were from the same batch. We were given opportunities and had to prove our capabilities and competence. No cheating, no shortcuts. We had to do real work.” Tengku Razaleigh reminded Umno members that the party’s strength has always come from its well-established grassroots network and deep connection with the Malay community. “I still believe that the key role lies with Umno because it already has an established organisation. Wherever you go you’ll find its presence in government offices and in the community. Right now, they can’t speak up because Umno is not in power. But when Umno is in power, everyone wants to be part of it.” He said the party could not afford to rest on its past glory or rely solely on senior figures to sustain its influence. “Young people must take over. The youth must be empowered to lead at every level, even the women’s wings. “We won’t live forever. Few are lucky enough to reach 100 years old.” – By Ikhwan Zulkaflee

Ű BY IKHWAN ZULKAFLEE newsdesk@thesundaily.com

o ‘Formerleaders,includingTun Mwerepreviouslybroughtback to the party as they still could make valuable contributions’

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno veteran Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has voiced his support for Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar’s possible return to Umno, saying that the former Rembau MP should be welcomed back into the party’s fold. He said several Umno leaders, including former president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, had previously been brought back into the party as they still had valuable contributions to make to both Umno and the nation. “I like it when people like KJ (Khairy) come back. When Mahathir was expelled, I was the one who worked to bring him back into Umno,” Tengku Razaleigh told theSun in an exclusive interview at his home. He was responding to a Malay daily report that Umno would welcome Khairy, a former minister, back into its fold. Khairy, who was expelled from Umno in January 2023 for openly criticising the party leadership, has been the subject of renewed speculation about his return. It was reported that he might rejoin Umno before the Sabah state election at the end of this month. Tengku Razaleigh stressed that anyone granted a second chance to return must dedicate himself to strengthening the party and above all serving the people. Recalling the party’s turbulent past, Tengku Razaleigh, fondly known as Ku Li, said the idea of welcoming Mahathir back into Umno was initially rejected by the party hierarchy. “The then deputy prime minister Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman had opposed Mahathir’s return, declaring ‘over my dead body.’” But Tengku Razaleigh, who shared a close relationship with Ismail, managed to persuade him after persistent discussions. “I spoke to Ismail every night until he agreed on condition that Mahathir would play a good role in Umno. I gave that assurance.” Tengku Razaleigh, a former finance minister during Barisan Nasional’s long tenure in government, said he had also played a part in bringing current Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim into Umno in the early years of Anwar’s political journey. “I knew he wanted to be prime minister from the beginning. The most important thing is to work for the people, not for self-glorification. Only God deserves to be worshipped, not ourselves.” Commenting on Umno’s future, Tengku Razaleigh said the party must survive for the sake of Malay political stability, describing it as the only organisation capable of uplifting

Tengku Razaleigh said anyone granted a second chance to return to Umno must dedicate himself to strengthening the party and serving the people. – ADAM AMIR HAMZAH/THESUN

the community. “We don’t want to see Umno dead or paralysed. “Umno has the structure, the grassroots and the trust of the people, especially in the villages. They understand Umno. They don’t really understand PAS.” He argued that while other parties such as PKR lack the organisational strength and grassroots machinery to serve Malays effectively, Umno remains fair and inclusive, enjoying support even from non-Malays.

“Umno has never been about taking away anyone’s wealth or power. “It gives opportunities, scholarships and education loans so that poor Malays can study and advance. “Many still struggle – they wear suits but can’t afford books or living expenses. Malays are not yet truly developed. “Umno is a premier party. No one can defeat it except ourselves. Leaders today must have the courage to stand up for Umno, not just follow others.”

‘Many politicians today driven by power, wealth unlike earlier leaders’ KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s early political leaders served selflessly for the people and the nation unlike many of today’s politicians who appear driven by power and wealth, said Umno veteran and former finance minister Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. Umno during elections,” Tengku Razaleigh told theSun in an exclusive interview. “Tun Razak didn’t even have a house. Dr Ismail too. They had nothing for themselves. They worked and sacrificed for the people not for positions or riches.” to wrongdoing but internal manoeuvring for power. “Umno should never have been declared illegal. It was a ploy by those who wanted to stay in power. “The party had done nothing wrong. Tengku Razaleigh added that since then Umno’s democratic practices had weakened. “Annual general meetings were supposed to be held every June. Now they keep postponing them.

“Even the president’s and deputy president’s posts cannot be contested. If you challenge, they get angry. “Leadership must come through democracy, not through fear or rewards. “I’ve been in Umno for over 66 years. Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Mahathir were juniors to me. “I was already vice-president when they were still climbing. I never chased the prime minister’s post. I just wanted what was best for the Malays,” he said. – By Ikhwan Zulkaflee

He said this spirit of selfless service is no longer seen today as current leaders appear consumed by material gain and internal politicking. “Now, some fight for posts and money. They think about contracts, about power, about how to hold on to positions. That’s not the Umno I knew.” Tengku Razaleigh, who formed Semangat 46 after Umno was declared unlawful in 1988, recalled that the party’s dissolution was not due

“The court was told by Umno’s own lawyer that the party was unlawful. What could the judge do?” He explained that the court case at the time had merely sought to compel Umno to hold fresh party elections after then-president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad won by a narrow 43-vote margin. “The real issue was the leadership contest. They wanted a new general assembly, a re-election.”

He lamented that the country’s political culture has strayed far from the ideals of its founding figures who placed national service above personal gain. “In the early days, leaders like Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Abdul Razak and Tun Dr Ismail worked hard for the people. “They had no personal wealth. Tunku died with debts – I know, because I helped to settle them myself. “He even sold his rubber estate to finance