Nazri: I have no problem with Ku Nan as sec-gen
KUALA LUMPUR: Padang Rengas lawmaker Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz has no hard feelings over the decision to retain Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor as the Barisan Nasional secretary-general.
Nazri said he was now free to express his views without being tied to the coalition’s position.
“It makes my life easier because I am a maverick politician, and also in many ways, a non-conformist but not rebellious.
“Having a post in Barisan won’t allow me to be free to express myself, sometimes necessary for wayang kulit (shadow play),” Nazri said.
He also said he has no grudges against anyone as he has “been a winner” in all party, divisional and even general elections.
Nazris appointment as Barisan’s secretary-general was deemed unconstitutional as he was unilaterally appointed to the post by then Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi last October.
Barisan component parties MCA and MIC had described Nazri’s appointment as illegal and was not recognised by the two parties.
Nazri said he had no issues with Tengku Adnan being retained as the secretary-general as the latter has experience being in the post.
However, Nazri said he had hoped that senior Umno politician Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein would be appointed as Barisan’s secretary-general.
“I was hoping Hishammuddin would be suggested as he was a senior minister, vice-president and MP.
“I thought (MCA president) Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong and (MIC president) Tan Sri S.A Vigneswaran who were also youth leaders when Hishamuddin was Umno Youth chief would propose Hishammuddin. But there is no problem with Tengku Adnan,” he added.
Nazri said he can pursue his political tasks for the future, starting with ensuring that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim gets the support from Umno lawmakers to succeed Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as Prime Minister.
“I am not saying that Anwar must fight with Dr Mahathir for the post. I am saying that once the baton has been passed to Anwar then I have the task to ensure Anwar has the support (in Parliament) to become the next Prime Minister,” said Nazri.