By Yow Hong ChiehThe Malaysian Insider
ANALYSIS
Oct 9, 2010
Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah will lead the Barisan Nasional (BN) bid to recapture the Galas state seat in the November 4 by-election, campaigning for a party that has sidelined him over the years.
The Kelantan prince has not minced his words with Umno, with his latest battle centred on oil royalty payments for his home state.
The PAS state government has taken the matter to court and Tengku Razaleigh said today it would be sub-judice to mention it, when he accepted the task of leading the BN election campaign.
He will finalise the campaign details on Monday with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, his opponent for the Umno presidency.
In campaigning for Umno, the politician popularly known as Ku Li will have to live down his various speeches and quotes on issues that are at odds with the party.
Among them:
On Umno’s failings and the need for party reform:
• “The rot in Umno is has gone so deep that it requires wholesale structural reform.” (Five proposals for Umno, razaleigh.com; February 1, 2009)
• “Corruption is the scourge of the country. Umno is a step away from being identified with that scourge.” (Better to lose the battle, razaleigh.com; October 11, 2009)
• “The nomination quota is an undemocratic and unconstitutional restriction. It is against the founding spirit of the party, which was open and grassroots driven.” (What is Umno changing?, The Nut Graph; October 13, 2009)
• “Today’s Umno, under its present leadership, is probably beyond reform. Our leaders are the problem, and they have structured the party, bullied and bought it, so that they cannot be replaced by those who would lead to serve.” (Umno then and now, razaleigh.com; February 13, 2009)
• “The party succession is now dominated by ethnic champions or party warlords with little else to qualify them to govern a plural society with a sophisticated, trade-oriented economy.” (On victory, consensual leadership and reversion to form, razaleigh.com; February 23, 2009)
• “Unable to respond to the reality that the BN formula is broken and the people want more than ethno-religious politics, the ruling party appears to be reacting by digging itself deeper into narrow racial causes with no future in them.” (Malaysia’s regime crisis, race politics and the kalimah Allah issue, ISEAS Regional Outlook Forum, Singapore; January 7, 2010)
• “Without Chinese support, Umno would be like PAS in the days when it seemed like a local party of Kelantan: an exclusively Malay party strong in some localities but irrelevant nationally.” (On the MCA EGM, razaleigh.com; October 11, 2009)
On government corruption and mismanagement:
• “Corruption has become institutionalized in our political system. It is ruining this country.”(Let ministers declare their assets, razaleigh.com; August 2, 2010)
• “We have a political class unwilling or unable to address the central issue of the day because they have grown fat and comfortable with a system built on lies and theft.” (Fourth Annual Malaysian Student Leaders Summit, Kuala Lumpur; July 31, 2010)
• “1 Malaysia is empty because it is propagated by a government supported by a racially-based party system that is the chief cause of our inability to grow up in our race relations.” (Fourth Annual Malaysian Student Leaders Summit, Kuala Lumpur; July 31, 2010)
On the Kelantan oil royalties issue:
• “The federal government’s refusal to pay Kelantan, and it’s arbitrary treatment of Terengganu’s oil money – on and off according to whether the state was in Opposition hands – is in violation of a solemn contract, sealed in an Act of Parliament, between the State governments and Petronas… This is an attack on the right of the people to choose their own government within our system of parliamentary democracy.” (Conversations on the Constitution; March 11, 2010)
On the Perak constitutional crisis:
• “The BN’s takeover of Perak has set off a chain-reaction of illegality which has left Perak quite possibly without a legitimate government. One of our most prosperous states has been reduced to a failed state.” (Cascasing illegality, razaleigh.com; March 4, 2009)
• “The farcical circumstances of these defections, complete with mysterious disappearances, sudden reversals, and implausible explanations, show ample signs of illegal inducement.” (The longer term, razaleigh.com; February 5, 2009)
• “To remove and install governments in any other way is to violate the Constitution, erode the rule of law, and to run the risk of forming an illegal government… Legitimate authority can only be established through the democratic means spelled out in our constitution.” (The rule of law, razaleigh.com; February 5, 2009)
#1 by yhsiew on Saturday, 9 October 2010 - 10:01 pm
Ku Li’s mission is a ploy by BN to throw him out of the party. If Ku Li fares badly in the task entrusted to him, BN will have good reasons to further sideline him or put him “in cold storage”, so that he will leave the party spontaneously.
#2 by Thor on Saturday, 9 October 2010 - 10:49 pm
Umno’s fellas are out of ideas and backdated.
They thought that by fielding someone who’s well known, could somehow bring them victory.
Time have change and BN never and will never ever knows what the people want.
What the rakyat want nowadays are a clean and caring government but not racists, bullies, liars or thieves.
When you hate BN, you really hate BN!
And when you are to hate BN, you hate the government, that’s it!
You put whoever in, he’s gonna “doggone” for sure.
Heed my advice, Ku Li!!!
With BN, you’re always a sore loser!
#3 by vsp on Saturday, 9 October 2010 - 11:19 pm
If Ku Li fails Muyiddin will be all smiles. But if Ku Li succeeds, Muyiddin will be constantly watching his back. Expect Muyiddin to sabotage Ku Li’s effort in Galas.
#4 by Jeffrey on Saturday, 9 October 2010 - 11:36 pm
Yow Hong Chieh said, “In campaigning for Umno, the politician popularly known as Ku Li will have to live down his various speeches and quotes on issues that are at odds with the party” and he then went on to cite various examples on these. This is certainly what his own party’s detractors hope his lead of BN’s bid to recapture the Galas state seat would do – to make him tone down his criticism in derogation of his political credibility. But this needs not be the case.
He can still step up his criticism of UMNO’s weaknesses whilst leading at the same time UMNO/BN’s bid for Galas state seat. [He may well turn out to be the first Malaysian politician to win a seat by criticizing his own party’s failings than just attacking the opposition party’s.]
This Ku Li could try doing by structuring his campaign on the following argument and basis:
First he has to re-affirm whatever criticisms he has so levied on UMNO & BN. He does not backtrack and back pedal on these criticism just because he is afforded the opportunity by his party to lead the campaign on Galas state seat. He has to take this position to demonstrate that he is a candidate of political convictions and principles, a man of his words, and not a man whose words are sold to the highest bidder and could change just because of an offer of a position to lead by his party. This stance will buttress his political credibility and capital.
Second, he has to explain why he does the unordinary – campaign for UMNO/BN a party/coalition that both he and his rival the PAS candidate criticize and share the common view and objective of securing for Kelantan more oil royalty. This he does by stating that he is a man of unwavering political allegiance. He is born bred and will die an UMNO man: it is better than a “katak”. Those voters of Galas state constituency that traditionally support UMNO will doubly support Ku Li whom they feel will not defect to the Opposition’s side.
He will then explain that he stays within UMNO – and now even accepts the difficult appointment of leading its campaign on the Galas state by-election because it is his resolve to reform UMNO/BN from within – which is more effective than from without; that part of this reform is to do justice and fairness including lobby from within Kelantan’s rights for more oil royalty. Now taking this track he will get the attention of even voters of Galas state constituency that traditionally support PAS. They will start wondering whether there is an element of truth in what he says, and some may even give him the benefit of the doubt by giving his candidate the votes.
Meanwhile his political rival candidate’s campaign is thrown off balance and is in a state of disarray. The opposition’s campaign is likely been structured to rebut and contradict Ku Li’s campaign to defend UMNO/BN’s indefensible positions on various matters but now it is becoming ineffective because Ku Li the adversary is not defending but agreeing with him subject to the caveat that if he or his UMNO candidate were elected, the cause of reform will be faster and more effectively served than the case of a PAS’s candidate being elected!
Third, as against his own party’s critics as to why he appears to be agreeing and supporting what the rival candidate says, Ku Li has the excuse that he is just abiding by UMNO’s president’s and the PM’s main platform to reform and re-invent UMNO/BN: so what’s wrong?
This is the only way Ku Li could have his cake (ie retain consistency of his earlier criticisms of UMNO/BN and political credibility and yet eat it (ie can the chance to lead the Galas by election, which, if successful, will bolster further his influence within UMNO!
#5 by Jeffrey on Saturday, 9 October 2010 - 11:42 pm
Typo error in last sentence – “…get (not can) the chance to lead the Galas by election, which, if successful, will…”
#6 by ekompute on Sunday, 10 October 2010 - 12:53 am
Well, those quotes cited were made during the days when he was sidelined… now that he is no longer sidelined, his tune and music has to change diametrically to suit the new situation. Politics, as they say, is the art of the possible and I believe he can resolve all his contradictions.
#7 by yhsiew on Sunday, 10 October 2010 - 7:31 am
As an experienced political veteran, I believe Ku Li is able to “play smart” in the Galas by-election game.
#8 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Sunday, 10 October 2010 - 7:35 am
Ku Li, the tracks are slippery at best. I don’t see how u can speak of integrity and honour hereafter if u decide to champion UMNO’s cause.
I dare say u would be finished in the eyes of all moderate Malaysians. They will look at u with suspicion and regard u as nothing more than a weed that bends with the winds; u may survive for a while but like all lallang, u are better off as humus and will be scorched by the noonday heat. At worst u will be mere fodder for UMNO’s political fires.
Well, take yr choice and good luck. I thought well of you up till now.
#9 by undertaker888 on Sunday, 10 October 2010 - 8:00 am
Why is he still campaigning for the party with the stench of a rotting dead rat? He is trying to be an angel in lucifer’s court.
#10 by wanderer on Sunday, 10 October 2010 - 8:12 am
Ku Li are you going to do it both ways?…or, just your way! We don’t envy you in your difficult position, “You cannot have your cake and eat your cake” Perhaps, Allah is testing your integrity and your sincerity…before you sail into the sunset of your political life, do something decent that is above UMNO!
#11 by Taxidriver on Sunday, 10 October 2010 - 11:25 am
It is not too late for TRH to withdraw without offending both his party and fellow Kelantanese. Tell UMNO to withdraw because it is a waste of taxpayers money as winning or losing by either party will not change the power equation in the Kelantan State Assembly. And since the 13th GE is anticipated to be not very far away, UMNO might as well wait it out.
#12 by sotong on Sunday, 10 October 2010 - 11:54 am
Until our country and her people are truly independent and free…very little is going to change for the better.
Ku Li is not going to make much impact….unless he continues to speak from his heart.
#13 by DAP man on Sunday, 10 October 2010 - 12:11 pm
Ku Li is a man without any principles. He has condemned UMNO like hell.
On what moral platform will be speak now for an UMNO victory in Galas.
Actually Ku Li is a liability for UMNO.
If I am a Galas voter I will ask him why I should vote for UMNO when this party has refused my state the oil royalty.
I will ask him why I should vote for a party that is, according to him, beyond redemption, a party that is utterly corrupted.
#14 by Loh on Sunday, 10 October 2010 - 12:48 pm
UMNO knows very well that they have no chance to win in Galas. If Ku Li can win it for them, they would not complain. If Ku Li cannot win, they can then blame the failure on Ku Li, along with whatever Ku Li stands for. For UMNO the plot is win-win. For Ku Li, it is his duty until he leaves UMNO. He was still hoping.
#15 by Ray on Sunday, 10 October 2010 - 3:57 pm
After 53 yrs of Malay-Sia WEAK Bigot Moron Dictatorships ruled hence Umno created a frail nation of the hypocritcal Hopeless Blinds religious Dictator morons…gilallah everyday ……the corrupted rich get richer and leaving the majority poor rakyat suffer becos of the Sins of sowing Undemocratic Constitution by these Umnoist Corrupted Bigot Moron Leaders.
Thus most of those civil rakyat marginalised whose future were destined uncertain with pains and sufferings.
Its Time Now!! Galas Voters!!
Rakyats Malaysia First “”Reform and VOTE for PR for yr future generations. “”
#16 by isahbiazhar on Sunday, 10 October 2010 - 8:02 pm
Najib had promised Li that the oil royalty will be given to Kelantan once he captures the seat.He will also be made the Menteri Besar once UMNO takes over Kelantan. This is what transpired between Li and Najib.Good luck to Li; at least he has something concrete during his last days.
#17 by Jeffrey on Sunday, 10 October 2010 - 9:08 pm
Will Najib really make such a promise?
Can it be fulfilled?
Capturing the Galas state seat does not by itself guarantees automatic delivery of the State of Kelantan or its state assembly in next election.
If Kelantan remains with PAS, Ku Li is not MB and the additional oil royalty given to PAS state govt will serve to provide it additional resources to PAS to strengthen its grip in other malay muslim rural based states as against UMNO.
#18 by dagen on Monday, 11 October 2010 - 9:19 am
At least ku li has something concrete, isahbaizhar?
Jib’s words may look, sound and weigh like concrete, but at this moment it is still concrete not yet poured. In fact I doubt whether the batch of concrete meant for ku li has been mixed at all – not even, I suspect, the nominal 1:2:4 mix. And dont forget. Freshly poured concrete has no strength until it is completely set. In other words, before it hardens wet concrete is actually quite useless.