Ku Li: BN is relevant, even with one party

The Umno presidential candidate says this is because of the ideals behind BN which is aimed at building a united nation.

The Barisan Nasional coalition currently consists of Umno, MCA and MIC after Gerakan and four parties in Sarawak left. (Reuters pic)

BUTTERWORTH: Umno presidential hopeful Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah is of the view that Barisan Nasional (BN) remains relevant, even though the coalition has now been reduced to just three parties.

This follows the departure of its founding member Gerakan, as well as four of its parties in Sarawak. They have since formed the Gabungan Politik Sarawak (GPS).

BN currently consists of Umno, MCA and MIC.

“It is relevant, even with one party. This is because of the ideals behind BN. We want to build a united nation,” he told reporters after a meeting with Penang Umno delegates in Seberang Jaya, near here, today.

The party veteran was asked to comment on the relevance of BN, and how he intends to stop the rot.

On the situation surrounding Gerakan and GPS, Tengku Razaleigh, who is better known as Ku Li, stressed on the need to understand it and to talk to the leaders.

“If given the chance I will talk to all these leaders and find out from them why they made such a decision. I will speak to (Gerakan president) Mah Siew Keong on why they had come to such a conclusion.

“After all, Tun Abdul Razak had formed the coalition as an extension to the greater alliance, to have political peace so that we don’t play politics to much and can focus on nation building.

“It was a noble idea,” he said.

On whether he would seek to bring Gerakan and GPS parties back into the BN fold, should he win the Umno presidency, Tengku Razaleigh said he could not give any guarantees.

“We can talk and we can negotiate. God willing, there will be efforts (to draw them back),” he said.

Gerakan said the party would remain as an independent party in opposition to Pakatan Harapan, and would “cooperate with like-minded parties, individuals and groups”.

It said the decision “was made after serious and comprehensive deliberation, reflection and consideration of the current political developments of the country post-GE14”.

The battle for the Umno presidency will see the Gua Musang MP going up against, among others, Khairy Jamaluddin and Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Party elections are set to take place this Saturday.

It will be the second time Tengku Razaleigh is contesting the presidency, having done so in 1987 against the then Umno president and Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

When asked to comment on Zahid’s views that Pakatan Harapan (PH) was shaky from within, and that Umno may be able to make a come back before the next general election, Tengku Razaleigh had this to say: “Let us pray for that to happen soon. That is why we need to ready ourselves, to get the party to be a strong force, so that when that happens, as suggested by Zahid, if we need to change government, we are ready to take over or participate.

“But for heaven’s sake we must get ready,” he said.

On whether Zahid’s comments were an attempt to fish for votes, the 81-year-old said he did not know.

“Possibly. Possibly not. Ask him,” he added.

Zahid, who is the acting Umno president recently expressed confidence Umno will return to Putrajaya soon and without the hassle of having to go through a general election.

He had reportedly said the PH government was unstable and will collapse in the near future.

Umno currently holds 53 seats in Parliament. - FMT