Ku Li is a much longer PM-in-waiting than Anwar
Hence Ku Li is prepared to work with PKR and DAP to oust Muhyiddin even if that means Umno will be kicked out. This is no longer about Umno but about Ku Li. And if Ku Li can get at least ten Umno MPs to support him, and combined with MPs from PKR, DAP and PAN, Ku Li can become PM9 before he enters his grave.
NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin
They say Anwar Ibrahim is the longest Prime Minister-in-waiting in Malaysian history. There are those who say Anwar has been waiting to become PM since 1981 and others say it was from 1991.
Whatever it may be, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah a.k.a. Ku Li has been PM-in-waiting since 1976. Hence Ku Li beats Anwar to the title of longest PM-in-waiting in Malaysian history. Ku Li is 83 years old and he has spent 44 years, which is more than half his life, waiting to become PM.
Ku Li was supposed to be Tun Hussein Onn’s deputy in 1976. However, for reasons best known to him, he forgoes the post of DPM in favour of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad based on the understanding that, when Mahathir becomes PM, he would become Mahathir’s deputy.
When Mahathir became PM in 1981, Ku Li was played out and Tun Musa Hitam became the DPM instead. When Ku Li challenged Musa, Mahathir demoted him. From Finance Minister, Ku Li kena turun pangkat to Trade and Industry Minister.
Ku Li has been PM-in-waiting for 44 years since 1976 and is Malaysia’s longest PM-in-waiting
In 1988, Mahathir kicked Ku Li out of Umno. With no party as his base, Ku Li was forced to create Semangat 46. When Mahathir and Anwar began to have problems in 1996, Ku Li closed down Semangat 46 and retuned to Umno thinking that Mahathir will get rid of Anwar and he can take over as the new DPM and heir to the throne.
Mahathir did get rid of Anwar in 1998. However, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was appointed the new DPM instead. This upset Ku Li who realised he had made a mistake by closing down Semangat 46, thinking that, once Anwar goes, he would take over.
When Abdullah took over as PM5 in 2003, Ku Li had hoped he would be chosen as the new number two. Mahathir, however, wanted Najib Tun Razak while Abdullah wanted Muhyiddin Yassin. Mahathir finally won and Abdullah had no choice but to reluctantly appoint Najib as the DPM.
Mahathir sold Ku Li out so many times but Ku Li still falls for it
When Mahathir began to have differences with Abdullah in 2006, Ku Li collaborated with Mahathir in an attempt to pressure Abdullah into resigning. Abdullah did finally resign in 2009. However, Najib was chosen as the new PM, and Najib chose Muhyiddin and not Ku Li as his deputy.
Ku Li has been bypassed for 44 years — 1976, 1981, 1998, 2003, and 2009. Ku Li knows, if he ever wants to be the PM, it has to be now. If it does not happen now, then Ku Li will never become PM till the day he dies. And to become PM now, he will have to oust Muhyiddin.
Hence Ku Li is prepared to work with PKR and DAP to oust Muhyiddin even if that means Umno will be kicked out. This is no longer about Umno but about Ku Li. And if Ku Li can get at least ten Umno MPs to support him, and combined with MPs from PKR, DAP and PAN, Ku Li can become PM9 before he enters his grave.
