Diminished influence: Is Ku Li the right choice for election director in Kelantan?
SHAH ALAM - Experts suggest that the influence of veteran Umno leader Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, also known as Ku Li, has diminished over time, raising doubts about his suitability as the election director for both Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) in Kelantan.
Senior Lecturer at University Putra Malaysia Dr Nur Ayuni Mohd Isa acknowledges Ku Li's past contributions and respect within Umno and the nation but believes his influence has lagged in recent years.
"Tengklu Razaleigh Hamzah was once a dynamic leader in Umno and much respected in the nation, not just in Kelantan.
"However, his time has passed, and his influence may be weaker than it once was," she told Sinar Daily.
Nur Ayuni explains that challenging the established presence of Pas in Kelantan would require more than a prominent figure from Kelantan or Malaysian politics.
"It is not easy to dislodge Pas in Kelantan, which appears well-established among the people in Kelantan.
"Doing that would take more than a former big name in Kelantan and Malaysian politics," she said.
Meanwhile, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Political Science Association Professor Dr Syaza Shukri admits that Ku Li still has some influence, but his popularity has declined significantly.
"Ku Li is the best that Umno can offer in Kelantan due to his experience and close relations with the grassroots.
"Let’s be honest, it’s not like PH has a better candidate to put in Kelantan to be in charge.
"Ku Li's popularity has diminished, he knows the people and what they want or need," she said.
Syaza suggests that in today's political landscape, where people are moving away from veteran politicians, it may be more prudent to assign Ku Li a leadership role in the election strategy without making him the prominent face or poster boy.
Yesterday, Parti Amanah Negara leadership council committee member Datuk Wan Abdul Rahim Wan Abdullah viewed Ku Li best person to hold the election director's post.
He said that Ku Li's stature impacted the unity government's ability to win the election.
