Ku Li to denounce Putrajaya in Parliament today

By admin-s Last updated Mar 17, 2015

(TMI) – Malaysia’s longest-serving lawmaker Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah is set to speak out against Putrajaya when debating the royal address in Parliament today, launching an unprecedented move to attack his ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.

The Gua Musang MP and a BN backbencher will raise 10 issues in outlining his unhappiness with the contents of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s royal address and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s leadership of the country.

“Ku Li feels the king’s address does not truly reflect the problems the country is currently facing,” said a source close to the Kelantan prince, using the moniker he is popularly known by.

“Among issues he will raise include the 1MDB fiasco and the conflict of interest in Najib holding both the prime minister and finance minister’s portfolios,” he added, referring to the government-owned strategic investor 1Malaysia Development Bhd which has RM42 billion in debts.

The source said Ku Li’s speech, which is around 30 minutes, will also touch on how Umno, the BN lynchpin, has “taken over the sovereignty or the power of Parliament”.

The former Umno vice-president’s speech would be the first time in Malaysian parliamentary history a government backbencher will speak out against the king’s royal address.

“It will trigger a lot of controversy but he will also offer solutions to the country’s current woes,” the source said in Kuala Lumpur last night.

It is understood that a copy of the speech will be made available at 9am today.

Tengku Razaleigh’s speech will also be the strongest attempt to date to censure Najib in Parliament by an Umno MP. The prime minister, who has been in power for nearly six years, has been criticised for his handling of the economy and political issues.