Ku Li mum on Galas candidacy, accepts election director post
By Yow Hong Chieh, The Malaysian Insider
SEPANG, Oct 9 — Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah sidestepped all questions on his possible candidacy for the Galas by-election, saying only that the matter had yet to be discussed with the party’s top leadership.
“We have nothing to announce,” the Gua Musang MP said at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) here after arriving from London.
Umno leaders have said the Kelantan prince is the best choice for the November 4 by-election as he has held the Gua Musang seat since 1969 although his view that Kelantan should get oil royalty is at odds with the party.
“I may meet the PM (prime minister) on Monday. After that, we will have a meeting and, hopefully, after the meeting we will hold a press conference,” Tengku Razaleigh added.
He had earlier met with Umno Kelantan liaison chief Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed and Umno information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan in closed door discussions after his flight touched down.
Ku Li, as he is more popularly known, however, confirmed he has accepted the post of Galas election director, saying it was his responsibility as an Umno member and Gua Musang MP.
The Galas state seat fell vacant after PAS lawmaker Che Hashim Sulaima died from colon cancer on September 27, triggering the country’s 12th by-election since Election 2008.
During Election 2008, PAS’s Che Hashim won Galas with 4,399 votes, defeating incumbent Saufi Deraman.
In that General Election, PAS was able to capture 38 of the 45 state seats in Kelantan while BN won six and PKR managed one.
