Veteran politician Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who unsuccessfully contested the Umno president’s post three times, can only watch from the sidelines the convulsions gripping the party ahead of next week’s general assembly.
Razaleigh, who still look robust at 71, talked to Malaysiakini on a wide range of issues in a 60-minute interview at his ‘White House’ in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.
In this first of a three-part series, he shared his views on the barring of deputy president aspirant Mohd Ali Rustam.
Malaysiakini: Are you surprised by the action taken by the Umno disciplinary board?
Razaleigh: I'm not surprised because I think the disciplinary committee was waiting to act on somebody big. I don't know if they have stop investigation on others, but if they find further evidence on other candidates, I think they will not hesitate to act because they have been put in a very embarrassing position.
They (critics) said that the disciplinary committee is one-sided, (and) it appeared as though it's one-sided. It so happen that people associate (Mohd) Ali Rustam with Abdullah (Ahmad) Badawi, and of course the other person who is also penalised is Abdullah's son-in-law (Khairy Jamaluddin). That's too much of a coincidence.
So all this things put the disciplinary committee in a very awkward situation.
It’s seen as Pak Lah's men being persecuted and now increasingly there are two camps - Najib's men versus Pak Lah's men. Is there a possibility of a split within the party?
It's already split, and it (disciplinary committee) only makes the matter worst. I’ve heard murmuring in Parliament voices that are associated with Ali Rustam are now going to vote the third candidate and they are not going to support those who are known to be associated with those who are going to be in power.
I think those who are not linked with any party bosses are going to be supported by Ali Rustam's people. That is going to cause the split.
You raised the point that the disciplinary committee did not suspend Ali Rustam’s membership, and as an Umno member, he has the right to contest…
That's according to the law. It may not be in the constitution of Umno, because under the constitution of Umno, the supreme council is given the authority to write up rules and code of ethics, which the disciplinary committee is relying upon.
That being so, even though he was being barred from offering himself for contest for this top post, he can rely on the constitution which is backed by the Societies Act, which says very clearly, even though you are deemed to have lost your membership, you have not lost your right as a member. That is provided under the Societies Act.
Why do you think they did not suspend him? After all, he was found guilty.
I don't know, I think the disciplinary committee may have overlooked this aspect. I don't even understand why certain people are just given a warning, some suspended, and in the case of Ali (Rustam), he is barred from contesting. I don't know although they have committed the same crime.
There are complaints that the agent who acted on behalf of Ali Rustam was found guilty and suspended, but the agent of Khairy was not.
That's why a lot of people are raising questions about the fairness of the judgement. Why some people are let off while others were brutally penalised.
In the case of Mohd Ali, is the decision effective now or they have to wait for the MT (supreme council) to meet?
I think it has to wait until the MT meets, but then the ‘jungle telegraph’ has conveyed the decision, although not officially endorsed by the supreme council… and because of that, I think this is politics (and) perception, so they have taken that as being final even before it’s endorsed.
Putting yourself into Ali Rustam's shoes, what would you do?
Appeal and go to the Registrar of Societies and impress upon the registrar that he (Mohd Ali) hasn't lost his rights as a member. After all, he is not suspended as a member…
But do you expect the registrar to step in?
Well, the registrar will have to exercise his powers, unless he is an office boy...
Let’s assume Ali Rustam is out of the picture. It’s going to be Muhyiddin (Yassin) versus Muhammad Muhd Taib. What’s your prognosis?
Of course, a lot of people are saying that Muhyddin is a better candidate of the two, but it depends on who is better supported.
In this instant, Muhyddin looks like he is better supported, because Muhyddin has claimed that he has the support of Najib, but on the other hand, with this decision by the disciplinary committee, it looks like Muhd Taib is going to get the votes that would have otherwise gone to Mohd Ali, and that's quite a number of votes, and that could kick the balance in favour of Muhd Taib.
There is talk that they are trying to get Muhd Taib to pull out.
I think that is Dr Mahathir (Mohamad)'s style - that there should not be any contest for number one and number two. I've always been a pain to this kind of ruling - number one and number two cannot be contested.
According to the scenario now, what can you expect to see after the Umno election?
Well, the sure thing, unless the registrar acts, or unless Abdullah acts, Najib is going to be elected or confirmed as the president of the party, and of course, Najib will rule the party irrespective of what happen to number two and number three and so on.
After all, everybody looks up to the president, people hardly mention about the role of the deputy president or vice-president unless something happens to the president.
So if the president again becomes prime minister, if he is appointed by the king, then of course it's all academic. What we talk now is irrelevant, because the number one man will determine the future of the party as well as the country.
Do you think that Pak Lah will give up his PM’s post?
I think Pak Lah has resigned to the idea that he is leaving. He doesn't show that he has the spirit to fight anymore. He has lost it; I don't think he would mount a campaign against...
Then why does people think that he may not give up his post?
Well, it is all talked about by those people who do not want to lose their positions. With Abdullah gone, these boys are also losing their jobs. I think these are the people who are talking in the corridors of power… I think it's a waste of time.
Next: What to expect from Najib as PM
Malaysiakini
21/03/09
Razaleigh, who still look robust at 71, talked to Malaysiakini on a wide range of issues in a 60-minute interview at his ‘White House’ in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.
In this first of a three-part series, he shared his views on the barring of deputy president aspirant Mohd Ali Rustam.
Malaysiakini: Are you surprised by the action taken by the Umno disciplinary board?
Razaleigh: I'm not surprised because I think the disciplinary committee was waiting to act on somebody big. I don't know if they have stop investigation on others, but if they find further evidence on other candidates, I think they will not hesitate to act because they have been put in a very embarrassing position.
They (critics) said that the disciplinary committee is one-sided, (and) it appeared as though it's one-sided. It so happen that people associate (Mohd) Ali Rustam with Abdullah (Ahmad) Badawi, and of course the other person who is also penalised is Abdullah's son-in-law (Khairy Jamaluddin). That's too much of a coincidence.
So all this things put the disciplinary committee in a very awkward situation.
It’s seen as Pak Lah's men being persecuted and now increasingly there are two camps - Najib's men versus Pak Lah's men. Is there a possibility of a split within the party?
It's already split, and it (disciplinary committee) only makes the matter worst. I’ve heard murmuring in Parliament voices that are associated with Ali Rustam are now going to vote the third candidate and they are not going to support those who are known to be associated with those who are going to be in power.
I think those who are not linked with any party bosses are going to be supported by Ali Rustam's people. That is going to cause the split.
You raised the point that the disciplinary committee did not suspend Ali Rustam’s membership, and as an Umno member, he has the right to contest…
That's according to the law. It may not be in the constitution of Umno, because under the constitution of Umno, the supreme council is given the authority to write up rules and code of ethics, which the disciplinary committee is relying upon.
That being so, even though he was being barred from offering himself for contest for this top post, he can rely on the constitution which is backed by the Societies Act, which says very clearly, even though you are deemed to have lost your membership, you have not lost your right as a member. That is provided under the Societies Act.
Why do you think they did not suspend him? After all, he was found guilty.
I don't know, I think the disciplinary committee may have overlooked this aspect. I don't even understand why certain people are just given a warning, some suspended, and in the case of Ali (Rustam), he is barred from contesting. I don't know although they have committed the same crime.
There are complaints that the agent who acted on behalf of Ali Rustam was found guilty and suspended, but the agent of Khairy was not.
That's why a lot of people are raising questions about the fairness of the judgement. Why some people are let off while others were brutally penalised.
In the case of Mohd Ali, is the decision effective now or they have to wait for the MT (supreme council) to meet?
I think it has to wait until the MT meets, but then the ‘jungle telegraph’ has conveyed the decision, although not officially endorsed by the supreme council… and because of that, I think this is politics (and) perception, so they have taken that as being final even before it’s endorsed.
Putting yourself into Ali Rustam's shoes, what would you do?
Appeal and go to the Registrar of Societies and impress upon the registrar that he (Mohd Ali) hasn't lost his rights as a member. After all, he is not suspended as a member…
But do you expect the registrar to step in?
Well, the registrar will have to exercise his powers, unless he is an office boy...
Let’s assume Ali Rustam is out of the picture. It’s going to be Muhyiddin (Yassin) versus Muhammad Muhd Taib. What’s your prognosis?
Of course, a lot of people are saying that Muhyddin is a better candidate of the two, but it depends on who is better supported.
In this instant, Muhyddin looks like he is better supported, because Muhyddin has claimed that he has the support of Najib, but on the other hand, with this decision by the disciplinary committee, it looks like Muhd Taib is going to get the votes that would have otherwise gone to Mohd Ali, and that's quite a number of votes, and that could kick the balance in favour of Muhd Taib.
There is talk that they are trying to get Muhd Taib to pull out.
I think that is Dr Mahathir (Mohamad)'s style - that there should not be any contest for number one and number two. I've always been a pain to this kind of ruling - number one and number two cannot be contested.
According to the scenario now, what can you expect to see after the Umno election?
Well, the sure thing, unless the registrar acts, or unless Abdullah acts, Najib is going to be elected or confirmed as the president of the party, and of course, Najib will rule the party irrespective of what happen to number two and number three and so on.
After all, everybody looks up to the president, people hardly mention about the role of the deputy president or vice-president unless something happens to the president.
So if the president again becomes prime minister, if he is appointed by the king, then of course it's all academic. What we talk now is irrelevant, because the number one man will determine the future of the party as well as the country.
Do you think that Pak Lah will give up his PM’s post?
I think Pak Lah has resigned to the idea that he is leaving. He doesn't show that he has the spirit to fight anymore. He has lost it; I don't think he would mount a campaign against...
Then why does people think that he may not give up his post?
Well, it is all talked about by those people who do not want to lose their positions. With Abdullah gone, these boys are also losing their jobs. I think these are the people who are talking in the corridors of power… I think it's a waste of time.
Next: What to expect from Najib as PM
Malaysiakini
21/03/09
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