MALAYSIA and New Zealand will be poles apart in terms of the age gap of their premiers should former Finance Minister Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah had his final wish come true.
At 84, the 12-term Gua Musang MP harbours the ambition that many Malaysians will probably deemed as “not in their lifetime” but yet again, everything is possible in politics.
After all, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad clocked in as the world’s oldest Prime Minister (PM) at the age of 92 years and 141 days (born July 10, 1925) in the aftermath of the 14th General Election in May 2018.
For comparison sake, Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern is thus far the world’s youngest female head of government, having assumed the role of the 40th PM of New Zealand at the age of 37 on Oct 26, 2017.
Having survived a COVID-19 scare after being tested positive in January this year, Tengku Razaleigh who is more affably known as Ku Li told The Vibes news portal that “he has what it takes to be PM as the other possibilities, including incumbent Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, are unfit”.
His take on three candidates include Muhyiddin whom he labelled as “lazy, lacked innovation and ideas”; 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”, reported the news portal.
But Ku Li was quick to quantify: “But I don’t think I’ll be (the PM). 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.”
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 Dr Mahathir would name him Economic Affairs Minister when Pakatan Harapan won the federal power in 2018.
“He was only given the International Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) job because of his involvement in bringing down PH (in last year’s Sheraton Move),” added the descendant of the Kelantanese royalty. – April 2, 2021
