Title is hereditary, not from Malaysia, says Ku Nan

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor has hit out at those who question the veracity of his “Tengku” title, saying he comes from a line of Aceh warriors and that the title is hereditary.

“This is a time where people condemn everything, even my title as a Tengku has become a problem,” the Umno secretary-general said at a Wanita Umno gathering in the Batu constituency yesterday.

He clarified that his title was not from Malaysia and that he had explained it back in 1982 when he contested an Umno Youth exco position.

Tengku Adnan said his family was from the Indonesian province and it was his ancestors who brought Islam to Malaysia.

“If you study the history of Aceh, you will know of Tengku Nyah Abu. And here is the ‘grandson’ fighting his own battle.

“They did not submit to the Dutch and that is the same fighting spirit which runs in my blood,” he said.

Former Batu Kawan division vice-chief Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan alleged that the title was fake in a Facebook post on Feb 29.

He made the allegation after Tengku Adnan questioned his rights in lodging a report with the Registrar of Societies over the suspension of former party deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

At the event, Tengku Adnan also called former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad an egoistical man blinded by power.

“He thinks he is strong and that he has the support of the people. Our job is to prove him wrong,” he said, adding that the Opposition was merely using Dr Mahathir to achieve its political goals.

Tengku Adnan also said Dr Mahathir went against his own words, as he had pledged to “do what it takes” to support his successor.

“But look at what he is doing now. He is sitting at the same table as Opposition leaders and signing a declaration against the Prime Minister. You tell me, what is wrong with our Prime Minister? How often do you get a Prime Minister who admits his faults and mistakes?

“He admitted it and said that we are not a perfect government nor a perfect party. But he also said that he would do whatever it takes to make it better and that is what is most important,” he said.