'Kurang ajar' politics a bane for Umno, says Rais Yatim

Rais Yatim warns that the 'kurang ajar' conduct of some Umno leaders will hurt his party.

The Umno veteran, who is also a special adviser to the government on cultural matters, lamented that such leaders were not being reprimanded by the party.

"The attitude shown by certain (Umno) division leaders is very wrong. For example, carrying a coffin to the Selangor state secretariat building.

"Yet, we do not see any criticism from those above. They are just left to do so," Rais said in reference to Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Md Yunos, who carried out the stunt during a protest against the Selangor government (photo below).

He stressed that the conduct of Umno leaders should be based on Islam and Malay culture, and not on trying to seek publicity.

"This kind of 'kurang ajar' (insolent) politics that (some want to) bring into Umno is not Malay culture, it will be our loss," he told Malaysiakini in an interview.

The former information minister said he hoped that a more cultured approach can be returned to politics, pointing out that the Rukun Negara includes the principles of "courtesy and morality".

He also complained about the degree of partisanship in politics today, making reference to the treatment of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad after he joined the opposition.

"If you are the prime minister but is now in the opposition, you can no longer visit him," he said.

Previously, Sinar Harian quoted Rais as saying that there were attempts to prevent him from visiting Mahathir, when the former prime minister was attacking his immediate successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Now under Najib Abdul Razak's leadership, several of the prime minister’s supporters had slammed Rais after he raised concerns about the 1MDB scandal and businessperson Low Taek Jho.

"We can no longer practice a decent politics but have become inclined to politics that is inflammatory and hostile.

"This culture must be put to a stop or it will cost us," Rais cautioned. -Mkini