KUALA LUMPUR – Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah wants to be prime minister before he dies.
Despite not having the support of his party, the 84-year-old former finance minister told The Vibes that he has what it takes to be prime minister as the other possibilities, including incumbent Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, are unfit.
Acknowledging that this sentiment may not be shared by his own party, the 12-term Gua Musang MP interestingly said any possibility of support for his ambition may come only from the opposition.
His take on three candidates include Muhyiddin, whom he labelled as “lazy”; International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, who is “unqualified”; and, opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who he claims will “bankrupt the country in three days”.
So, who should be prime minister?
“Me-lah!” he said without hesitation.
“But I don’t think I’ll be (the prime minister). I don’t know, I don’t seem to have the support of the party. I may get the support of opposition members, but not Umno.”
On Muhyiddin and other front runners, Tengku Razaleigh said they lack the qualities to helm the administration.
He reserved his harshest criticism for Azmin, whom he labelled as “unqualified and unfit” to even be given any ministerial position.
He said it took him by surprise that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad would name him economic affairs minister when Pakatan Harapan won federal power in 2018.
“Look at him, he has not handled anything, not even in the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) today. I don’t think he has the capability of running a ministry. He was only given the Miti job because of his involvement in bringing down PH (in last year’s Sheraton Move).
“It is unfair to even give him that responsibility, because we are talking about the country. You can’t just allow Azmin to handle trade knowing fully well he’s not equipped to do it. Can he handle a crisis if it happens?”
On Muhyiddin, Tengku Razaleigh said the Bersatu president is “lazy”, and “lacked innovation” and ideas. He qualified his assessment based on his experience working with Muhyiddin in the Trade and Industry Ministry from 1984 to 1986.
“He was my deputy. He had no idea (what to do). Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who served as my deputy in Petronas previously, is much better in that sense. Between the two, I would pick Najib anytime.
“Najib’s got initiative, and is creative. Muhyiddin is just very laid-back about things. So, when he was appointed by the Agong to be prime minister, I was badly disappointed. He is not the right man for the country.”
As for Anwar, Tengku Razaleigh said “he will bankrupt the country in three days!”
He cited Anwar’s time as education minister from 1986 to 1991, saying that he had left a bad mark in the country’s education system when he “religious-ised” it at the expense of multiculturalism.
“This is not for our society. In fact, what we have today has to be changed, too. I’m with Dr Mahathir that there should be options when it comes to languages and mediums used in school.
“If you want to learn mathematics in Chinese or English, so be it, as long as you pass our national language,” he said of Anwar, who, these days, is an ardent proponent of multiculturalism.
On calls from various quarters for political old guards like himself, Dr Mahathir, Anwar and Muhyiddin to make way for the younger generation, the Umno veteran said they are not yet ready to take the leap.
Chiefly, he noted, young leaders are not able to handle pressure as well as veterans.
“Listen to them fanning away questions from people from the press; they can’t even handle it. Honestly, I don’t think they are ready.” – The Vibes, April 2, 2021
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