Analysts doubt Ku Li can deliver for BN, PH in Kelantan

 

Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah was MP for Ulu Kelantan from 1974 to 1986 and for Gua Musang from 1986 to 2022.

PETALING JAYA: Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah may not be the best person to lead the charge for Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan in Kelantan, say analysts.

Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid of Universiti Sains Malaysia said Tengku Razaleigh, commonly known as Ku Li, is past his prime and may no longer have the same pull as before.

“You need a leader who symbolises the future, not the past, however good he may be, especially in an era when young voters dominate the scene,” he told FMT.

Ahmad Fauzi was commenting on Amanah leader Wan Abdul Rahim Wan Abdullah’s proposal that Tengku Razaleigh lead the charge for BN and PH in Kelantan given his standing as a political icon.

However, the analyst warned that banking on the former Gua Musang MP would be a short-sighted move as it reflects a lack of talent in BN.

He also said BN’s best hope of winning over voters was to distance itself from corruption.

“This includes, of course, (distancing itself from) Najib Razak, whom many in Umno still harbour affection for,” said Ahmad Fauzi.

Meanwhile, Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said that Tengku Razaleigh may not be able to draw enough Malay support to make a difference.

“In the last general election (GE15), Tengku Razaleigh lost to a PAS candidate in Gua Musang. So, I believe it will be an uphill task for him to attract the Malay vote to BN,” said Azmi.

Tengku Razaleigh was MP for Ulu Kelantan from 1974 to 1986 and for Gua Musang from 1986 to November 2022.

In GE15, PAS dominated in Kelantan, winning all 14 parliamentary seats up for grabs, with Azizi Abu Naim deposing Tengku Razaleigh in Gua Musang. - FMT