Dr M should name Ku Li as next PM, says former law minister

Former de facto law minister suggests that Umno veteran Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah be named as a candidate to take over as prime minister. – The Malaysian Insider filepic, April 27, 2015.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad should name Umno veteran Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah as his choice for the next prime minister, if he truly wants to save Umno, a former minister has said.

By naming Tengku Razaleigh, popularly known as Ku Li, Malaysians will be more receptive to Dr Mahathir's call for Datuk Seri Najib Razak to be replaced, as the Kelantan prince has all the qualities of a capable leader, said Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.

"I believe that by proposing Tengku Razaleigh, Dr Mahathir’s roadshows will be more meaningful.

“People will see Dr Mahathir’s efforts as not just seeking to replace the train driver with someone more suited to his liking – but rather to change the train itself, which is more suited to the needs of the country.

"The broad appeal that Dr Mahathir enjoys today with the rakyat can be put to full effect if there is a sign that he wants Umno as a whole to change, and not just its leader," wrote Zaid on his blog today.

The former de facto law minister said that unlike current Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Tengku Razaleigh "will have a great, positive impact on the rakyat and will be able to lay new foundations for the country".

He said Tengku Razaleigh possessed core qualities not present in the current crop of top Umno leaders – an ability to empathise with the plight of ordinary citizens; to eradicate extremism and unite all Malaysians; and to create a new standard by which leaders are judged.

Tengku Razaleigh is able to persuade those who have moved their money overseas to bring it back, said Zaid, adding that the Gua Musang MP would likely set aside the unpopular goods and services tax (GST) "until the government itself knows what to do with the collection of the tax".

He believed Tengku Razaleigh would probably increase the minimum wage and create several small banks to cater to the needs of small traders and businesses, and protect them from illegal moneylenders.

"Tengku Razaleigh is a friend to ordinary Malaysians, unlike Umno leaders in Putrajaya today who are friends only with tycoons and big businesses," wrote Zaid.

He added that Tengku Razaleigh would bring Malay and Chinese extremists back to the middle, and reintroduce dialogue and consensus-building, even with opposition parties.

Zaid said this was because Tengku Razaleigh was strong enough to deal with those who wanted to destroy the country, and was trusted by both sides of the political divide.

"More importantly, he can bring to the government a new standard by which leaders are judged. He himself is not afraid of being judged and examined, and does not need the Official Secrets Act and the Sedition Act to 'protect' him from any wrongdoings.

"He knows the value of integrity in government and in public office. Like Dr Mahathir, he was a favourite of the late Tun Razak (Tun Abdul Razak Hussein), and it is time that our nation gave him the chance to serve the people and the country," wrote Zaid.

Zaid noted that during Dr Mahathir's forum on Saturday, the former prime minister said Muhyiddin was the likely successor to Najib, given that he was currently the Umno deputy president.

But Zaid said Muhyiddin would not likely challenge Najib, and would instead stay neutral and do nothing until "Najib’s train has well and truly gone off the rails".

He added that it was unlikely Muhyiddin would be able to reform the country and undo what Najib has done in the past few years.

Zaid also doubted that Muhyiddin could bring the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) issue to a close with full public disclosure, and punish the offenders no matter who they were.

"The results of the upcoming by-elections will be instrumental. We’ll have to look at the results in Rompin and Permatang Pauh: if Umno does not do well, then it will be all the more pressing for Dr Mahathir to openly name Najib’s successor," said Zaid.

Dr Mahathir has gone on a tirade against Najib in recent months, urging the prime minister to step down over the 1MDB scandal, for continuing the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) and also over the murder of a Mongolian woman, Altantuya Shaariibuu. ‎

On March 17, Tengku Razaleigh delivered a speech in the Dewan Rakyat urging his colleagues to decide whether they would remember their pledge to serve the people, or give up their powers to forces outside of the Parliament by putting party interests first.

He also pressed ministers and MPs to declare their assets to avoid conflict of interest and promote good governance, and criticised the GST.

- TMI