KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 — The decision by Umno’s leadership to call for the 15th general election (GE15) early is "the correct one" to return the power to voters, former deputy prime minister Tun Musa Hitam reportedly said.

He pointed to the nation’s alleged political instability, which has harmed the country’s ability to attract foreign investments in a speech during a forum organised by the Johor division of the Malaysian Council of Former Elected Representatives (Mubarak), according to a report by The Star.

"The political mess happening in Malaysia right now has never happened before, where there is a lot of confusion throughout the country, including among political parties that have confused the people.

"The truth is, it is the people that are suffering as they never wanted to see what we are experiencing now,” he was quoted as saying.

The nation is in need of world-class leadership that can handle issues it currently faces, he reportedly said, adding that the achievements of the country’s forefathers when they established Umno have now disintegrated.

"We should remember that the country’s leadership — both before and after Merdeka — their purpose was to have a united Malayan nation and they have built a foundation for it.

"We had a good education policy, a good economic policy, a good foreign policy, where the purpose was to create a united nation that can face the challenges we are facing now,” he was quoted as saying, lamenting the nation’s present challenge of an acute shortage of good leadership.

He reportedly named three people that he believes hold potential as great leaders for the country: caretaker prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, former prime minister and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, and Opposition leader and PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

"Malaysia is really in need of a world-class leadership based on education, experience and one that is resilient and brave to face anything in the modern world.

"It seems we are facing a deficit in top-class leaders that can steer Malaysia to a higher level of competitiveness globally.

"I have to be frank. When I meet with some political critics, they will ask me what is happening to Malaysian politics now.

"They have a perception that our politics is like a cartoon and have become like entertainment to them. How could we have strayed?"