Umno not strong, must work with others in GE15, says Ku Li

 

Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah says Umno members fear of entering even coffee shops for they may be mocked by other patrons.

PETALING JAYA: Umno is not as strong as it used to be and needs to cooperate with other parties in the 15th general election (GE15), says party veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

He said that the problem was also compounded by Umno’s partners in Barisan Nasional (BN) being weak, Utusan Malaysia reported.

“We want to go solo? It’s good if we want to go solo when we are strong.

“But when it comes time to campaign, we must be prepared to answer questions that will be raised by the people. These include questions on our strengths at the moment,” he was quoted as saying.

“So, that is why we (Umno) have to work with others. It is because we are no longer as strong as we used to be.”

The Gua Musang MP added that many of Umno’s former allies have left the coalition, and this made BN weak too.

“I (have) already said we had many friends in (Barisan Nasional), but now many of them have withdrawn. The parties that are still with BN are also no longer strong.”

He was speaking to reporters after officiating an event in Brooke Post, Gua Musang, yesterday.

Tengku Razaleigh, who is better known as Ku Li, claimed that Umno is facing various issues which have left its leaders no longer being able to meet the public and answer their questions.

Although he did not elaborate, he said some Umno leaders were hesitant to meet the public because they are facing legal action.

“Our people do not even want to enter a coffee shop as they are afraid of people making fun of them,” he said.

Tengku Razaleigh also said that while he did not have the authority to determine whether leaders involved in corruption cases should be fielded in GE15, he said he was against the idea.

“It may affect the party’s image and subject us to being mocked by the people,” he said.

“I think we have many others who can be put forward”.

Last month, BN deputy chairman Mohamad Hasan insisted that the coalition would contest GE15 on its own, stating that it would strive to win as many seats as possible so as to form the next government. - FMT