Nobody can accuse me of inconsistency, Ku Li fires back

Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has said that nobody can accuse him of being inconsistent in his stand.

As a politician, the former finance minister and Gua Musang MP pointed out that he has to operate within the ambit of the Federal Constitution and Umno.

"Therefore, the issue of being supportive of the government of the day, and by extension, to the head of the government does not arise," he added in a media statement.

Last Saturday, Mahathir claimed it was Tengku Razaleigh who proposed to remove Najib through a no-confidence vote in Parliament.

The former premier said this when asked to comment on the Umno veteran inking a declaration to support the prime minister.

Elaborating on his stand regarding governance, public responsibility and the need for change, Tengku Razaleigh said: "This has been the theme of my struggle nationally and in Umno since 1987. I have been consistent in the past and I will be in the future.”

"In the recent past, the demand for change has intensified. Like others who want change, I explored all legitimate and legal avenues, including the role of the Dewan Rakyat," he added.

Tengku Razaleigh, who is fondly known as Ku Li, said the country is now facing a serious crisis of governance and leadership, as a result of which Malaysia is facing dire economic problems, particularly the issue of sovereign debt.

This, he said, has brought about several serious economic problems such as the rising cost of living that adversely affects the people.

"I have always maintained in the past and warned that if we did not change our politics and the substance of our economic policy, we would face the kind of crisis we are facing today.

"I had warned of this in Parliament and in speeches that I had made. I had been consistent in saying that change is a necessity for us.

"Without change in governance and the way we carry out our public responsibility, we would not solve the problems before us," he added.

Tengku Razaleigh said he is mindful of the problems facing the nation.

"In my speech in Parliament and the letter to the MPs I had warned of the consequences of not managing these debts responsibly.

"It is therefore the duty of all politicians and MPs to rise above personalities and party politics to address the changes that are essential," he added. -Mkini