Umno veteran and former finance minister Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has lamented the decline in Malaysia’s political integrity, saying that today’s leaders are more focused on power, money, and personal gain than on serving the people.
In an exclusive interview with theSun, the 87-year-old statesman drew a sharp contrast between the country’s founding leaders and the current political class, describing the early generation as selfless patriots who placed national interest above all else.
Tengku Razaleigh added that Tun Razak and Dr Ismail owned no homes, emphasizing that they served purely out of duty.
He expressed disappointment that such values have faded, saying modern-day politicians are preoccupied with contracts, power, and positions rather than public service.
Reflecting on Umno’s 1988 crisis — when the party was declared illegal, leading him to form Semangat 46 — Tengku Razaleigh said the episode was rooted in power struggles, not wrongdoing.
He argued that democracy within Umno has since eroded, pointing out the repeated postponement of annual general meetings and the ban on contests for the top leadership posts.
Having served in Umno for over 66 years, Tengku Razaleigh said he had no ambition for the prime minister’s seat — only a desire to see the Malay community and the nation thrive.
