Khir Toyo tells why Ku Li should be Umno president

Former Selangor menteri besar Mohamad Khir Toyo has picked Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah as his choice for the Umno president's post in the June 30 party election.

He said Tengku Razaleigh carries no baggage unlike Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Khairy Jamaluddin who were cabinet members under former premier Najib Abdul Razak's administration.

While noting that Zahid and Khairy will push for Umno to be an effective opposition party, Khir opined that Pakatan Harapan will simply not listen to them.

"They are not going to entertain ideas from those who come with baggage. They would claim that this country is having problems because of you. So, don't talk much," Khir Toyo said he said in an interview with Malaysiakini.

Citing himself as an example, he claimed all the proposals he raised as the opposition in Selangor were ignored by then Pakatan Rakyat coalition which took power in 2008.

"They just merely said, 'You caused the fall of BN in Selangor'. My views were not taken."

Khir also said Umno acting president Zahid cannot play the role of an opposition leader.

"With Tengku Razaleigh (photo), they cannot dismiss him just like that. He joined the cabinet when Umno was at its peak," he said.

Khir pointed out that Khairy, whom he contested for the Youth chief post and lost in 2009, had failed to groom a leader in the wing.

"Umno Youth is weak. Khairy wants to be the only leader and he doesn't want to see anybody become the leader.

"If I were the Youth chief, I would strengthen the wing so we can contest as one team. If he had empowered the youth, I will support him for the presidency," he said.

'Ex-Negeri MB perfect for No 2 post'

Khir was appointed the Selangor menteri besar by Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 2000 at the age of 34.

In 2008, Selangor BN, led by Khir for the second time, secured only 20 state seats out of 56.

He relinquished his post as state opposition leader, state BN chairperson and state Umno chief two years later after the corruption allegation on the purchase of his mansion. He was later convicted and sentenced to one year's jail.

After the defeat on May 9 general election, Umno, which is now left with only 52 MPs, will choose its new leadership to revive the biggest Malay party.

A total of 165,000 delegates will be casting their votes in 191 divisions nationwide.

As for the deputy president post, Khir felt former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Mohamad Hasan will be perfect for the job because of his entrepreneurial expertise.

"We want a party president who has a good image, and his right-hand man should be able to take care of party assets and make money to fund activities.

"The president should be assisted by a secretary-general who is young but with experience in executing his duty at the grassroots level."

Such skills are needed as the party expects to receive lesser donation after losing power, he said.

Khir, who is now an ordinary party member, had offered to contest for a post in the supreme council but his nomination was rejected due to his conviction and jail sentence.

Under Section 9A(1)(d), the office-bearer should be disqualified if he has been sentenced to a fine of not less than RM2,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not less than one year. - Mkini