Gayung Ku Li bersambut: Pemuda Umno Johor cadang Perhimpunan Agung Khas

Posted by Erin
Monday, 17 March 2008
(KLpos) JIKA sebelum ini, bekas Menteri Kewangan Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah menulis surat kepada 193 ketua UMNO bahagian meminta diadakan Perhimpunan Agung luar biasa, kini saranan tersebut disambut Pemuda Umno Johor.
Menurut laporan Bernama, Pemuda Umno Johor hari ini mencadangkan supaya perhimpunan khas Umno diadakan segera bagi membincangkan masalah dan pertikaian pendapat yang timbul dalam parti ekoran tsunami politik dalam pilihan raya umum 8 Mac lepas.



"Presiden parti Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dan pemimpin-pemimpin lain juga boleh mengambil peluang untuk memberi amanat dan menerangkan kepada akar umbi bagi merapatkan barisan. Yang penting kita kena kembalikan keyakinan rakyat kepada Umno"
Pengerusi Tugas-Tugas Khas Pemuda Umno Johor Suhaimi Khalid berkata perhimpunan khas itu hendaklah diadakan sebelum Perhimpunan Agung Umno yang dijangkakan pada Ogos depan, memandangkan keadaan akar umbi yang kini bergolak.
"Perhimpunan khas ini akan membolehkan anggota parti bermuzakarah antara satu sama lain untuk selesai masalah. Kita tak boleh tuduh sesama sendiri sebaliknya bermuhasabah.

"Presiden parti Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dan pemimpin-pemimpin lain juga boleh mengambil peluang untuk memberi amanat dan menerangkan kepada akar umbi bagi merapatkan barisan. Yang penting kita kena kembalikan keyakinan rakyat kepada Umno," katanya ketika menghubungi Bernama dari Kota Tinggi, Johor hari ini.

Beliau berkata pertikaian pendapat yang timbul melibatkan pemimpin dan anggota Umno sejak akhir-akhir ini tidak menguntungkan parti, sebaliknya melemahkan orang Melayu.

Sebelum ini, Naib Presiden Umno Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin ketika ditemubual Bernama di Putrajaya berkata tsunami politik yang melanda negara pada pilihan raya umum ke-12 merupakan pengajaran yang menuntut semua pihak termasuk kepimpinan negara bermuhasabah dan mencari pendekatan sesuai untuk mengembalikan keyakinan rakyat.

Beliau juga meminta pemimpin akar umbi agar turun ke bawah menerangkan kepada akar umbi mengenai situasi politik semasa agar mereka tidak menjadi seperti "anak ayam kehilangan ibu".

Muhyiddin menyifatkan kegagalan Barisan Nasional (BN), ditunjangi Umno, MCA, MIC dan Gerakan, mengekalkan majoriti dua per tiga dalam pilihan raya sebagai genting dan perlu diterima dengan (fikiran) terbuka oleh semua pihak.

Episod politik tentang siapa yang bakal menjadi Menteri Besar Perlis; kedudukan Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh sebagai Menteri Besar Terengganu; dan tindakan Ahli Parlimen Jerlun yang juga anggota Exco Pemuda Umno, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir meminta Abdullah meletak jawatan, kini menjadi bualan hangat akar umbi

Sebelum ini, Tengku Razaleigh mencadangkan perhimpunan agung khas Umno itu diadakan pada 11 Mei ini.

"Saya mencadangkan tarikh tersebut kerana ia adalah hari ulang tahun (penubuhan) Umno," katanya.

Sementara itu Agendadailly.com melaporkan bahawa seorang orang kanan Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah yang dihubungi portal berita untuk mengesahkan apa benar Tengku Razaleigh ada menghantar surat itu berkata setahunya ada.

Katanya surat itu dihantar kepada Ketua-Ketua UMNO Bahagian dan para ahli jawatankuasa bahagian di seluruh negara.

“Yang you dapat menerusi email itu saya tak pasti kesahihan kandongannya tetapi surat itu hanya ditujukan kepada mereka yang berkenaan saja,”katanya.

Razaleigh wants Umno to discuss polls debacle

Posted by Raja Petra
Monday, 17 March 2008
By Jeremy Au Yong, THE STRAITS TIMES

UNITED Malays National Organisation (Umno) heavyweight Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has written to all the party's division chiefs calling for an emergency general meeting over the disastrous election results.

The two-page letter started popping up on the Internet recently, and Tengku Razaleigh's office has confirmed that it was written by him.

But while his aides stress that the letter is simply the former finance minister expressing his concern over Umno's woes, observers say it is the first move by the political maverick in a grab for power.

They say he has always harboured hopes of becoming prime minister after a failed bid in 1987 to usurp then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's place.

After all, this could be the 70-year-old Tengku Razaleigh's last and best chance as pressure mounts on Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi to step down.

Already, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, son of the former premier, has issued an open letter asking Datuk Seri Abdullah to step down.

In Tengku Razaleigh's own letter, he said he 'nearly shed tears' thinking about how Umno had fallen from holding two-thirds of parliamentary seats in 1955 to having just a simple majority.

'We should not accuse anyone for this bad performance. If we point fingers at just one leader as the source of it, then we are just absolving ourselves,' he wrote. 'We should have not allowed the leadership to make the mistake.'

Umno must find out the reason behind its recent losses, he said. 'Otherwise, at the next election, if the principles, moral and culture in BN and Umno do not change - and change radically - BN and Umno will no longer rule,' he said.

He urged party chiefs to meet to discuss the matter on May 11, the anniversary of the founding of Umno.

Whether Tengku Razaleigh, the longest-serving parliamentarian, intended so, his mass mail is likely to pile pressure on PM Abdullah.

Mr Wong Chin Huat of the electoral reform lobby group Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections feels there is little doubt Tengku Razaleigh will seize the current opportunity to make a comeback.

'He has been lying low ever since he rejoined Umno in 1996 and his party was disbanded, but he has never given up his ambition. People always see him as a dark horse who can come and pose a challenge at any time,' he said.

'He has more reformist credentials than PM Abdullah or Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. And I think he will be good for Umno,' Mr Wong said.

Tengku Razaleigh's cause is helped further by some quarters who consider him the candidate who can unite the Malays and non-Malays.

Meanwhile, the Internet is rife with speculation that Tengku Razaleigh is preparing himself to make a bid for Umno's presidency at the party's Supreme Council elections later this year.

But Mr Wong doubts if Tengku Razaleigh will make any headway.

'Given the amount of infighting in Umno, I doubt the party at large can think about the greater good and put aside personal ambitions,' he said. 'For him to make a comeback would mean Najib's dream of becoming prime minister is over. Would Najib allow him to do that?'

Separately, Bernama reported that the Johor Umno Youth yesterday proposed holding a special Umno assembly soon to discuss the differences of opinion over the party's performance at the elections.

Its chairman for special functions, Mr Suhaimi Khalid, said such differences of views on party leaders and members would only weaken the Malays.

jeremyau@sph.com.sg

Artikel di Malaysia Today, 15 Mac

Razaleigh move against Prime Minister?
Posted by kasee
Saturday, 15 March 2008
Razaleigh seen as man who can rally Chinese, Malay ground

KUALA LUMPUR, March 15 – Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has fired a broadside against Umno president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi , writing a letter to all 193 party division chiefs calling for a special meeting to discuss the reverses suffered at the polls.

Ku Li, as Razaleigh is known in the party, is viewed by some of Abdullah’s critics as someone who can unite the party and reach out to Chinese and Indians.

His letter will add further pressure on Abdullah who is being blamed for Barisan Nasional’s lacklustre performance in Election 2008, and could cause a split in a party that is struggling to come to terms with the loss of 5 states.

His letter reached the division heads yesterday and was measured in its tone. The elder statesman of Umno said that the recent election results was not only surprising, but frightening.

He wrote: “In the first general election in 1955, Umno controlled two-thirds seats in Parliament. Today, we are a minority voice in Parliament. At the federal level, Umno is no longer a strong political power. I nearly shed tears thinking about this scenario.

“We should not point fingers at anyone and absolve ourselves. In fact, we should have not allowed the leadership to make the mistake before it happened.‘’

Ku Li urged party members to call a meeting on May 11 to discuss the election results and the future of Malays.
“I’m suggesting this date because it is the anniversary of (the founding of) Umno,” he wrote.

“We must find out why Chinese and Indian voters rejected MCA and MIC candidates. Why were incumbent Umno candidates defeated by PKR and PAS candidates? We must find out why… Otherwise at the next election, if we don’t change our policies, culture and morale in BN and Umno and change radically, BN and Umno will not rule again.

“PKR-DAP-PAS will form the federal government, the PM may be from PKR and the DPM may be from the DAP… Umno will not be able to represent the voice of Malays again, ‘’ he wrote.

His letter sketched the worst case scenario for Umno, appealing to the party’s sense of insecurity over its place in Malaysian politics.

His letter and move to get a special assembly organised will scuttle efforts by the Umno leadership to put off any meeting till the end of the year.

It will also spark a debate within the low reaches of Umno, where there is confusion over the election results. It is difficult for Abdullah to say no to a demand from the ground to be heard.

Razaleigh has challenged the top party leadership before. In 1987, he challenged Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for the leadership and lost by 43 votes. He then formed a rival faction of Umno, splitting the party to form Semangat 46, which helped PAS to win control of Kelantan, Ku Li’s home state.- THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER

Time for BN to wake up - The Sun

Time for BN to wake up: Ku Li
by Husna Yusop

PETALING JAYA (March 09, 2008): Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders must wake from their slumber, face the truth and accept full responsibility for their biggest blow in Saturday's general election, Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said.
He said they should begin immediately the process of restoring themselves, after the party has been defeated and shamed on a scale without precedent in its history.
"Alongside losing our two-third 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 Umno but to the nation as a whole.

"We now face a period of uncertainty. 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."
In a statement issued yesterday, Tengku Razaleigh added that the electorate's rejection of BN in key areas has serious consequences on BN's ability to execute its 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," he said.
The other BN component parties have already lost their leadership role as representatives of the other major races of this country, he said.
"This is a historic crisis, and we must face it without further denial, self-deception or media spin," Tengku Razaleigh said.

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.

Majlis Kunjungan Hormat

Pada 15 Feb 2008, para AJK KAGUM Kelab Anak Gua Musang) serta Muafakat telah hadir dalam satu majlis kunjungan hormat ke Pejabat YBM Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. Majlis in dihadiri oleh lebih 20 orang ahli Muafakat dan AJK KAGUM.

KAGUM yang baru saja ditubuhkan pada akhir tahun lepas merancang untuk mengadakan pelbagai program untuk kesejahteraan bersama di Gua Musang.

Berita Radio RTM Jam 5 pada 15 Ogos 2007

RAZALEIGH-PAS


Cita-cita besar PAS untuk menang 40-kerusi Parlimen dalam Pilihan raya Umum akan datang, sekadar impian. la mustahil dicapai. Ini ditegaskan oleh Ahli Parlimen Gua Musang, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. Beliau mengulas kenyataan Menteri Besar Kelantan, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat clan Naib Presiden Pas, Datuk Husam Musa. Laporan Shamsudin Mohammad:


"Menurut Tengku Razaleigh, kerusi Parlimen yang ada sekarang juga sebahagian besar dimenangi oleh komponen BN seperti MCA dan MIC yang tidak mudah untuk dirampas. Sejarah perjuangan Pas selama ini juga belum pernah menunjukkan kemampuan PAS berbuat demikian. Tengku Razaleigh yang juga Ketua Umno Bahagian Gua Musang berkata, BN yang bertunjangkan Umno yang dianggotai orang Melayu merupakan benteng terkuat dan belum ada sejarah yang menyaksikan ianya tumpas di tangan parti Iain.Tengku Razaleigh memberitahu media selepas Majlis Mesra Pemimpin dengan masyarakat Tionghua di Kampung Baru Gua Musang. Shamsuddin Mohammad melaporkan untuk Berita Radio RTM."

((PBR))