Look past personal interests in seeking the right leader, Ku Li urges rulers

Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah says there is a ‘wave of undercurrent’ among the rakyat.

PETALING JAYA: The Malay rulers have a duty to go beyond personal interests and political lines to pick a leader with the stature and vision to lead the country out of the Covid-19 crisis, Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said today.

Tengku Razaleigh said Malaysia was in an unprecedented state of multiple crises, particularly economic and health, adding that the nation would either overcome this predicament or it would fail to do so.

He said leadership was about the “life of the nation” and the people’s well-being, with history providing various examples of failed leadership.

“We cannot afford to fail,” he warned in a statement.

“There is a wave of undercurrent that has not been articulated but is present in the rakyat. It is a silent wave reflecting a loss of confidence. We should not allow this wave to gain momentum.

“The rulers, therefore, have a duty at this crucial moment of the nation’s life to assume an important constitutional role arising from the oath that the Agong has taken before the rulers who elected him to represent them. This role is inherent in the oath.

“This is to rise above personal interests, political parties and personal considerations to seek a leader who has the capability, ability, vision and depth of understanding of the present situation to lead a government that can take us out of this dire situation that the rakyat is in.”

The Conference of Rulers is set to convene a special meeting at 2.30pm today, chaired by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.

Istana Negara said the rulers will discuss the views given by the 18 political party leaders who met the King over the past few days. Experts will also be briefing them on the nation’s health, security, political and economic situation.

Tengku Razaleigh, fondly known as Ku Li, also said the Dewan Rakyat was suffering from three “disabilities” when it was meant to be the platform for MPs to decide who had the majority support to hold the office of prime minister.

Firstly, he said, the Dewan Rakyat was partially dysfunctional as a substantial number of MPs were conflicted by “seen and unseen financial interests” and should be disqualified based on the House of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952.

“Secondly, it is a hung Dewan Rakyat with no majority to decide on their choice.

“Thirdly, a significant number are in breach of the constitutional basis on which they were elected; amounting to fraud on the constitution.

“Neither the constitution nor the law has any solutions to unravel these disabilities.”