After Ku Li joins race, Zahid says Umno should not repeat '87 split

Umno presidential candidate Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah's decision to challenge him in their bids for the party presidency showed that Umno was more open and democratic now but warned it should not lead to a repeat of the 1987 split.

"Tengku Razaleigh's announcement proves the commitment that all positions in Umno are for open for contest. It shows that Umno is more democratic.

"But Umno should not be split into two as it was in 1987 even though we are being more open in our execution," he said in a press statement today.

Tengku Razaleigh had unsuccessfully challenged Dr Mahathir Mohamad for the Umno presidency in 1987.

He then formed the splinter party Semangat 46 but failed to make significant inroads against Umno and is now defunct. He subsequently rejoined Umno.

Zahid, in his statement, stressed on the need to strengthen Umno as a team after it lost in the 14th general election.

"The priority of maintaining Umno supercedes positions that will be contested.

"The positions are a responsibility and not a political reward. Umno is now out of power," he said.

'Strong leadership'

He added that the campaign period should not be used for character assassination and should instead be conducted in friendship and brotherhood.

"I am open to accepting whomever that wins in order to form a strong Umno leadership.

"We must use this contest with the intention to prepare Umno for the political battle out there and not to create animosity among ourselves," he said.

Earlier today, Tengku Razaleigh, more fondly known as Ku Li, announced that he will be going up against Zahid for the Umno presidency at the party polls on June 30.

This is after several anti-Zahid groups within Umno urged him to step up to the plate.