Press Statement from Kuli on general election result

YBM Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah
Member of Parliament, Gua Musang,
Ketua Bahagian UMNO Gua Musang
21 Jalan Langgak Golf
Kuala Lumpur
Fax: +603 2142 3559


Press Statement on the Outcome of the 2008 General Election
Dateline: March 9, 2008



Barisan Nasional has been defeated and shamed on a scale without precedent
in our history. Alongside losing our 2/3rds majority in Parliament, we have
lost a record number of states to the Opposition, including the premier
state and the home state of the Prime Minister.

This is not just a blow to BN and to UMNO but to the nation as a whole. We
now face a period of uncertainty such as we have never experienced before.
BN and UMNO's legitimacy and strength have been the bedrock of national
unity and of Malaysia's successful development since Independence. All this
is now in question.

The Malaysian electorate's rejection of BN in key areas has serious
consequences on our ability to execute our national development plans. We
have won enough seats to form a federal government by simple majority, but
because of our losses, including our stunning defeat in the Malay heartland
states of Kedah and Kelantan, people are now saying that UMNO has lost its
legitimacy to represent the Malays. The other Barisan component parties have
already lost their leadership role as representatives of the other major
races of this country.

This is a historic crisis, and we must face it without further denial,
self-deception or media spin.

The honesty with which we interpret this result, and the decisiveness with
which we act on it, will determine whether we still have a future with the
people.

To begin immediately the process of restoring ourselves, the leadership team
must wake from its slumber, face the truth and accept full responsibility
for this debacle.