Ku Li slammed for working with opposition man Dr M
“Imagine if someone else did the same thing, what would be the reaction? What if after this other Umno MPs or any leaders started an open movement or called a press conference with the opposition without the permission of the party’s supreme council?
(FMT) – Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan has slammed an “Umno veteran” for disrespecting the party and confusing its grassroots members by aligning openly with an opposition leader at a joint press conference recently.
In an obvious jibe at party stalwart Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Shahril said the leader was not setting a good example nor was he helping the party with his actions.
Tengku Razaleigh, also known as Ku Li, is chairman of Umno’s advisory council but had recently held a joint press conference with former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to urge MPs to go beyond party lines in the final vote for the 2021 budget in the Dewan Rakyat.
The duo, who were one-time rivals for the Umno presidency, said the country needed a government that genuinely cared for the people and the development of the nation, hinting that the Perikatan Nasional administration could fall at the vote.
However, their bid failed when the budget was passed with a 111-108 vote, with one abstention.
Shahril said Ku Li’s actions have impacted the party by causing confusion among the grassroots regarding Umno’s stand.
“Imagine if someone else did the same thing, what would be the reaction? What if after this other Umno MPs or any leaders started an open movement or called a press conference with the opposition without the permission of the party’s supreme council?
“Would it set a good example? Of course, not,” he said, adding that politicians should not normalise the culture of going against the party publicly.
Taking a dig at Mahathir, Shahril also criticised a politician who commented that young people are less likely to be recognised in politics.
This came after the veterans said they were willing to offer themselves to help lead the nation, citing their vast experience in government.
“For me, in this case, although the two political figures (Mahathir and Ku Li) are old people, it does not mean young people are not recognised,” he said.
