Mahia's replacement from - Two assassinated by Tuk, one ate telur by Turtle

Ku Li, the nostalgic yet perfect choice for prime minister



From Rahim Zainuddin

Malaysians are, by and large, a nostalgic bunch. Those of us of a particular vintage tend to refer to the ‘70s and ‘80s as our best years.

We were among the best of the developing world in many sectors. Our leaders led with dignity, our courts were among the Commonwealth’s finest, and we were even good in sports. On a personal level, we could count on a broad group of friends made up of fellow Malaysians of every race.

The last twenty years, however, have seen us lose much of what we loved.

In 2018, many of us who experienced the real Malaysia wanted to claim our country back. Surely that is why the Umno-led Barisan Nasional, which by then had become synonymous with racism and corruption, was thrown out of power.

In doing so, we put our trust in someone from the previous generation. Yet, through politicking via the now infamous ‘Sheraton Move,’ the will of the people got frustrated.

Today, again purely as a result of politicking, the administration that stole its way to power has come to an end. There is no love lost, but Malaysia is left looking for someone to lead its third administration in a space of three short years.

Three names have been put on the shortlist – Umno vice-president, Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Pakatan Harapan chairman and perennial prime ministerial candidate Anwar Ibrahim, and someone who is a throwback to the Tunku Abdul Rahman era, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

For reasons best known only to our politicians, Anwar Ibrahim is not an option. Yet, if those three names were put to the rakyat, I am sure he will win quite handsomely.

Perhaps our elected representatives know better or perhaps they have more to lose if the former deputy prime minister took office. The rakyat can only leave that decision to the conscience of our political masters and members of parliament.

Ismail is also known to the rakyat. Unfortunately, he is not held in high regard. As the minister of defence, he is responsible for the security aspect of the nation’s battle to contain the pandemic. Suffice to say that in the eyes of the rakyat he has not done too well.

Even within Umno, he does not appear to be accepted. Seen as the leader of the breakaway faction opposed to current Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, news reports indicate that he does not have the favour of the party’s Supreme Council.

Tengku Razaleigh is not known to the present generation.

If age alone was a consideration, he would not be in the running. Yet, recent experience has shown that Malaysians are not at all bothered by age. What the rakyat wants to see is a competent hand to steer our rickety boat out of the storm it languishes in. What Malaysians do not want to see is more politicking and jostling for power.

No doubt, nostalgia is one justification for his appointment.

Ku Li, as he is fondly known by all, harkens to the time when politicians carried themselves with dignity. After a lengthy resistance, he eventually entered the political arena. He went on to serve as minister of finance for eight years under Malaysia’s third prime minister Hussein Onn and three more as minister of trade and industry under the next administration led by Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

His CV is extensive and very impressive. Among other things, he founded Petronas, Bank Bumiputera and Fleet Holdings, the company which took control of the local media from foreign owners. He also served as chairman of Pernas, the government corporation established to increase Bumiputera participation in the economy.

Ku Li is also credited with substantially improving Malaysia’s relations with China, having led our very first trade delegation to Beijing in 1971. He also served for a time as president of the Asean Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

His contribution to the economy was recognised as early as 1975, when a Malaysian Chamber of Commerce resolution named Razaleigh the Father of Malaysian Economic Development.

On the political front, Ku Li has served Umno faithfully and without fanfare.

A nail-biting Umno election in 1987 saw him and former deputy prime minister Musa Hitam lose their party leadership challenge to Dr Mahathir and the late Ghafar Baba by the slimmest of margins. On the advice of Tunku, his mentor, he left Umno shortly thereafter to form Semangat 46, returning in 1996.

Not one to delve in politics for its own sake, he never reached the summit of Umno’s leadership, failing to secure enough nominations in 2004 to challenge long-time incumbent Dr Mahathir. Four years later, he failed again to rival Najib Razak as Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s successor. Razaleigh’s latest defeat came in 2018 at the expense of current party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

At a time when more politicking is the last thing the rakyat wants to see, perhaps now is the time for Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah to lead this nation as prime minister, even if it is only on an interim basis.