Gua Musang MP Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has dismissed any notion of quitting Umno.
“Why should I leave Umno? I am very close to Umno, that is why I am with the party,” said Tengku Razaleigh, fondly known as Ku Li.
The nation’s longest-serving MP added that his heart is with Umno, and that he would continue to serve with the party.
Recently, the Gua Musang MP courted controversy by sharing the stage with former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, where the duo predicted the fall of the Perikatan Nasional government by losing Budget 2021’s final vote in its third reading.
The Budget eventually passed with only a three-vote majority.
Tengku Razaleigh’s move had triggered criticism from Umno leaders and the grassroots who called for the 83-year-old to be referred to the party’s disciplinary committee or be sacked.
So far, no action has been taken against the veteran politician who is widely known as Ku Li.
Of late, Tengku Razaleigh has been vocal against Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. In attempts to dethrone Muhyiddin, he sent a letter to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun to allow for a no-confidence motion against the prime minister to be debated.
He also sent letters to lawmakers urging them to support the no-confidence motion.
However, Azhar did not entertain his request, asking Ku Li to consult de facto Law Minister Takiyuddin Hassan on the matter.
Ku Li stressed that majority support for the prime minister has to be proven in the Dewan Rakyat, not only based on the budget votes or statutory declarations.
“This is about confidence (in the leadership and the country) which is able to stabilise the political situation. Outsiders will have a positive reaction to us if the government is legitimate. This is important.
“If they are confident, their amount of investment will multiply, job and business opportunities will increase.
“The economy will get better and the political situation will be stable. Won’t this benefit us all?”
Asked if he would contest in the next general election, Ku Li said he would leave it to the party and the people to decide on the matter.