In a recent interview, Gua Musang Umno Chief Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, popularly known as Ku Li, addressed reports suggesting he had told the Democratic Action Party (DAP) to stay out of the upcoming Nenggiri by-election. Ku Li clarified that his comments had been misconstrued, emphasizing that he merely indicated there was "no need" for DAP to campaign in the predominantly Malay constituency.
The clarification comes amid heightened political sensitivity ahead of the August 17 by-election. Ku Li, who is also Umno’s director for the by-election, explained that his remarks were taken out of context. "I remarked, there is no need DAP leaders here? Most of them are non-Malays and this (Nenggiri) is a 100% Malay constituency," he explained, underscoring that his statement was not a directive but an opinion on campaign strategy.
Ku Li's remarks were originally made in response to a discussion about whether DAP leaders should be invited to campaign for Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani. "I said that it’s not a necessity. They need not have to come. That was my statement," he reiterated, adding that he had no power to stop people from campaigning in Nenggiri or anywhere else.
The initial reports suggested that Tengku Razaleigh had urged DAP to stay out of the by-election, with claims that he questioned the effectiveness of DAP's involvement in a Malay-majority area. These reports further quoted him as saying DAP campaign speeches were usually more aligned with Chinese voters and that their presence would be a waste of time in Nenggiri.
In response to Ku Li's comments, Kelantan DAP chairman Azaha Abdul Rani expressed disappointment, suggesting that any concerns could have been addressed privately within the unity government coalition. "There was no need for Ku Li to go to the public media," Azaha told FMT. He stressed that DAP would have respected an internal decision to limit its involvement if it was deemed strategically sound.
Azaha also highlighted that DAP has a significant Malay membership, particularly in Kelantan, and that their campaign machinery includes many Malay members. "We felt insulted. DAP doesn’t just have Chinese members. Many in Kelantan are Malay. And our machinery is made up mostly of Malay members," a DAP grassroots leader added.
Despite the friction, Azaha noted that Pakatan Harapan, the coalition which includes DAP, had already launched its machinery for the by-election on July 21. However, he assured that DAP would refrain from making further public comments on the matter for the time being.
The Nenggiri by-election, scheduled for August 17 with nomination day on August 3, was triggered following the cessation of incumbent Azizi Abu Naim’s membership in Bersatu. As political parties gear up for the campaign, BN has denied allegations that it seeks to exclude key allies or members from participating in its rallies, dismissing such claims as attempts to sow discord within the unity government.
Ku Li’s clarification aims to dispel any misconceptions and reaffirm the collaborative spirit within the coalition as they prepare for the by-election in this critical Malay heartland.
By: Kpost
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