KUALA LUMPUR: Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah reiterated his call for Umno members to reject the transition plan of the top leadership, labelling it as 'extra-constitutional'.
He also asked the members to press for the party's annual general assembly and elections be held in December as initially planned.
"I reject this transition plan because it is extra-constitutional. The constitution of Umno clearly states succession will be done through party election," said Ku Li in a press conference at his home.
While he does not refute the fact that there would be a party election, he said: "Here they are making arrangement that 'you take what I have'. That is not determined by members of the party."
On whether the party members have a legal recourse to the matter, he said according to the party constitution its members were prohibited from taking actions in court. "The minute we do that, we lose our membership," he added.
He also questioned the motive of moving the party annual general meeting and elections of key office bearers of Umno to March next year.
"Why must it be shifted to March? Why can't it be kept to December as decided? Is there going to be a war or a huge strike in December?," he asked.
On Friday, the Umno Supreme Council decided to push the annual general assembly to March next year.
Consequently the elections for key office bearers including the president and deputy president would also be held in March. Party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is under pressure to hand over his post to his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Razak, has not decided if he would defend his post. The postponement is a move to facilitate the early transition of power from Abdullah to Najib.
Razaleigh who has offered himself for the post of president said the contests for party posts should be open. He said irrespective of whether party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi sought re-election or otherwise, he would continue to offer himself for the top post.
"I already offer myself and I don't make flip-flop decisions. I make decisions after I have thought them through. I feel there is a vacuum in the country's leadership. If I am accepted by the members and the people, I would be an effective leader.
"I would offer a change in Umno and offer an economic plan that would take us out from the problems that we are facing now," he said, adding that he would advocate a plan that would increase the earning per capita of the population from US$4,000 (RM13,720) to US$10,000 within five years.
He said the economy is in a mess. "There is capital flight, there is no new investment and there is massive unemployment. We have a large number not employed and if we don't look into these we are going to face bigger problems next year and the year after," he said.
On his chance in securing enough nominations to contest for the top posts, the Umno stalwart said he is confident.
"I am praying very hard to get 140 nominations. Then there will be no opposition," said Ku Li.
Asked if Abdullah was trying to buy more time to stay in power by delaying his announcement on whether to contest, Ku Li said: "Probably."
Ku Li said if Abdullah decides to contest and wins the presidency, then it is unlikely that he would step down.
"If he wants to step down, he can step down today. If he doesn't contest, he can't continue can he? If he continues and he wins, then it is another term of three years. I am sure he wants to continue as the prime minister as well. What is the point of contesting if (he) don't want to be president or PM of the country?," he told a packed press conference.
On whether he would name Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as his running mate, Ku Li said he has decided to leave the matter to the party members. "In the code of ethics of the party, we are not supposed to have teams," he added.
The Edge
28/09/08
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