Zahid welcomes challenge
Umno veep: Ku Li’s announcement shows party is now ‘more democratic’
PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic) says the announcement by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah that he will contest the Umno presidency shows that the party is now “more democratic”.
The party vice-president, who is handling the duties of the president, said it was vital to strengthen Umno following Barisan Nasional’s defeat in the general election.
“The priority to look after Umno as a whole is more important than contesting for any post.
“This is because a post is just a trust, it should not be a political windfall. Umno is now out from the court of power,” he said in a Facebook posting yesterday.
Dr Ahmad Zahid, who will be up against Razaleigh as his main opponent for the presidency, called for the campaign period not to be used as a stage for character assassinations against contestants, saying the spirit of ukhuwah (unity) should prevail.
Dr Ahmad Zahid, the former deputy prime minister who retained his Bagan Datuk parliamentary seat, said he was open to accepting anyone who won in the party polls.
“We should not enter the polls to face political enemies out there, and create animosity among ourselves,” he said, adding that the party elec- tion should not be a “platform to fight”.
A third contender for the presidency, Rahmat Azim Abdul Aziz, questioned Razaleigh’s plans for the party.
“We don’t know Ku Li’s plans and his popularity in Umno is questionable. Just look at those who appeared alongside him in his press conference,” he said when contacted, in apparent reference to supreme council members Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani and Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, who are contesting the vice-president’s post.
Johari, the former second finance minister, and Khaled, the former Johor mentri besar, lost their seats in the general election.
Rahmat added that Razaleigh must know and accept the reason why the party, which was once a fortress, suffered a loss.
“He cannot blame anyone else, he must blame himself because he is a leader yet he failed to stop (former president Datuk Seri) Najib (Tun Razak) and the party went down the drain.
“Now you have a party with over three million members but no leaders for the top two posts,” he said, adding that the party was in dire need of rejuvenation.
Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said the interest shown by leaders to contest for the party posts showed that there was “still strength within the party”.
Announcing that he would throw his support behind Dr Ahmad Zahid, he said: “I think it is good. Umno is on ground zero after the general election and is in the process of rebuilding.
“There are people who feel they can rebuild the party. Ku Li is one them. I think it is good for the party.”
Nazri, who retained his Padang Rengas parliamentary seat in Perak, announced that he also supported Tan Sri Annuar Musa for the post of deputy president, and Khairy Jamaluddin, Johari and Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob for the three vice-president’s post.
Veteran journalist Datuk A. Kadir Jasin described Razaleigh as “young” and having a good chance to be elected Umno president.
He said he personally felt that the Kelantan prince was the best candidate to lead the party.
“If Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is 10 years older, can lead Pakatan Harapan to victory and become Prime Minister for the second time, what is wrong in Ku Li leading Umno?
“This is the best time and last opportunity for him. After failing to defeat Dr Mahathir in the president’s contest 31 years ago, Ku Li has the best chance to become the Umno president,” Kadir wrote in his blogpost.
In Ipoh, Perak Umno deputy chief Datuk Saarani Mohamad said Umno grassroots members were free to choose who they wanted as their party president.
He said Umno was a democratic party and members had every right to support either Dr Ahmad Zahid or Ku Li in the party polls on June 30.
“Prior to his (Razaleigh’s) announcement, the state party had a meeting and at that time, there was only one choice, Dr Ahmad Zahid.
“Now that Razaleigh has entered the ring, it will be up to the grassroots to vote who they want,” he said when asked whether Perak Umno would throw its support behind Dr Ahmad Zahid who heads the Bagan Datuk division in the state.
“The best will win.”