Khairy is now underdog in Umno Youth race

Khairy Jama­luddin is within a whisker of qualifying to contest the Umno Youth chief post. He has amassed 36 nominations, just three shy of hitting the mark to be eligible to contest in the March party elections.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 – With only two weeks left to the end of Umno divisional delegates meetings, Umno Youth deputy chief, Khairy Jamaluddin, with only 33 nominations, remains the underdog for the contest to lead the wing, trailing far behind Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, who has received 60 nominations, while Datuk Seri Dr Khir Toyo, received 26.

Mukhriz obtained the minimum 38 nominations required to contest for the post on Oct 12, just three days after the start of divisional meetings, while Khairy is still struggling to get the 20% nominations.

Some observers blamed it on the decision by Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi not to defend the party presidency. At the same time, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had also urged Umno members to get rid of Abdullah’s men in the new administration.

The Rembau MP even failed to get a nomination from Putrajaya Umno, a division perceived to be inclined towards him as the Youth chief, Datuk Zaki Zahid is also a special officer to the Prime Minister.

He obtained only 22 votes, while Mukhriz got 33 and Datuk Seri Dr Khir Toyo, 22. A total of 90 delegates attended the meeting on Saturday afternoon that lasted for more than six hours.

However, Zaki retained his position, beating former Putrajaya Umno Youth exco member Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz, by merely three votes. Some delegates had predicted that Zaki would be another casualty in the uprising against Abdullah and his men.

Zaki was laughing when asked to interpret the voting trend, but admitted he would prefer someone else to be nominated for the Umno Youth chief post.

“I wish him congratulations; I was there when he came on Thursday, he was welcomed here in Putrajaya, although my personal preference is different, but we abide by the choice made by the delegates here,” said Zaki.

But for Tun Faisal, who is also a special officer to Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Husein, the signal for change from the delegates was very clear. He agreed that he did not totally lose the fight, as the division had nominated Mukhriz.

Newly elected Putrajaya Umno Youth deputy chief, Hishamuddin Yahya however was a little shocked by the nomination but not surprised with Zaki’s victory.

He added that less than 48 hours before the start of the meeting the fight for nomination was between Khir and Mukhriz.

“All three candidates were here to meet the delegates, Khairy came on the last day, the delegates have already decided to choose either Khir Toyo or Datuk Mukhriz,” said Hishamuddin, who initially thought Khir would be nominated by the division.

“Maybe the delegates were more impressed with Mukhriz’s campaign work,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

He said that Zaki’s victory shows that leaders linked to Abdullah are not rejected by the party grass roots.

“It is not right to reject someone just because he is connected to the Prime Minister, every leader must be judged individually, it is unfair, just because the Prime Minister is retiring. And Zaki is an active Youth leader, so he was judged based on his performance,” said Hishamuddin.

Khairy: 'Anwar will sell the country'

(NST) He said Anwar would also immediately sign a Free Trade Agreement with the United States.

"He would also agree with US intentions to set up a naval base in Sabah. I obtained all this information from very reliable sources," said Khairy at a ceramah at the Barisan Nasional Youth operation centre near here.

"We would like to know how Anwar is obtaining huge funds for his by-election campaign. Just look at the posters. I'm sure it would have cost him millions. We do not want him to sell off the country.

"If PKR is in power for the next five years, I'm sure they can sell the country. Anwar is a hypocrite of the highest order."

Khairy also lambasted Parti Keadilan Rakyat for the way its members and supporters behaved on nomination day for the by-election.

"PKR claimed that Umno practises the samseng culture. However, they are the ones who resort to such methods as could be clearly seen on nomination day and in Anwar's campaigns."

Khairy said although he did not want to resort to personal attacks, he had to bring up certain issues regarding Anwar as it involved his credibility as a leader.

"We are talking about the future of the country and we want a leader who is credible and responsible to the people."

He said Anwar claimed corruption was practised by the BN leaders but it was during his time as finance minister that many of hiscronies had benefited.

Khairy said the BN government was committed to fighting corruption and this was obvious when, three years ago, Perak executive council member Datuk Azman Mahalan was charged with corruption although he was a good friend of the prime minister.

He also claimed he had been informed that Pas no longer trusted Anwar and did not want him as the prime minister.

"Pas is not here to campaign for Anwar. They have rejected him. It is just that they are reluctant to inform him of their decision."

Khairy said he was willing to resign as Umno Youth deputy head on Sept 16 if Anwar fulfils his promise of being able to form the new government.

"However, if he fails to do so, he must then be willing to resign as PKR de facto leader," he added.

Khairy's Nomination Attracts Foreign Media

Video Link : Keen contest likely for Rembau

REMBAU, Feb 24 (Bernama) -- A big crowd including foreign media turned out at the Merdeka Hall, Rembau District Council, here Sunday to witness candidates for the Rembau parliamentary seat file their nomination papers.

At the centre of attraction was Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Khairy Jamaluddin. the prime minister''s son-in-law.

Khairy, who is Umno Youth deputy chief, arrived at the hall with Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan at 8am. Mohamad Hasan is defending the Rantau state seat.

They were accompanied by thousands of BN supporters to the nomination centre.

The foreign media covering the event included those from Singapore and France.

Two fixed-wing aircraft carrying Umno and BN flags flew past to lend an air of excitement to the BN supporters.

About 100 police personnel, including those from the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU), maintained public order at the nomination centre. Present was Negeri Sembilan police chief Datuk Osman Salleh.

The famous son-in-law is contesting in Rembau

Video : Khairy is sick of muta'ah marriages and the opposition

(Malaysiakini) Negri Sembilan's Rembau parliament seat will see a battle between two 30-something aspiring politicians - Khairy Jamaluddin, 32, and Badrul Hisham Shaharin, 30.

Khairy, who is Umno Youth deputy chief and son-in-law of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, will be pitted against Badrul Hisham, a former teacher and PKR's youngest supreme council member.

Khairy is among 12 Umno new faces to be fielded by the ruling Negri Sembilan BN for the March 8 general elections.

He will replace incumbent Firdaus Haron.

Four state executive councillors have been dropped from the BN line-up, including Norhayati Omar.

Also dropped is Puteri Umno assistant secretary Bibi Sherliza Mohd Khalid, who will not be defending her state seat of Paroi.

Those who have been retained to defend their parliament seats include Dr Rais Yatim (Jelebu) and S Sothinathan (Teluk Kemang).

Khairy : Don't Sulk If Not Nominated As Candidates

KOTA BAHARU, Feb 21 (Bernama) -- Umno leaders in Kelantan should not sulk if they have been dropped as candidates for the March 8 general election, Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin said today.

Instead, he said, they should soldier on to help the Barisan Nasional (BN) recapture the state from PAS.

"There is a tendency for some people to sulk when they are not nominated and this is when the "chah keting" (a Kelantanese phrase which means killing the political career of another person, usually from the same party) happens.

"This has happened in Kelantan before and if it happens again, it will render our efforts to wrest Kelantan difficult," he told reporters after opening the Kota Baharu Umno Youth operations room.

On Umno candidates in Kelantan, Khairy, who is tipped to contest in the Rembau parliamentary seat, said some Umno Youth members were in the list.

He thanked State Umno liaison chief Datuk Seri Annuar Musa for his confidence in the movement.

Khairy: Anwar and kin no threat

Video Link : Opposition talking bullshit

(Malaysiakini) Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin rained insults on PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim and said the latter could "field his daughter, wife or even himself in Lembah Pantai and BN (Barisan Nasional) will say ‘bring it on’."

He dismissed the speculation that if Anwar’s daughter Nurul Izzah is fielded for the Lembah Pantai parliamentary seat, it could threaten BN.

khairy jamaluddin kpg kerinchi sedia gempur 200208 fieryHowever, Khairy is confident that BN and the incumbent Sharizat Abdul Jalil would retain the seat.

"We managed to maintain this seat as a BN stronghold even during the difficult period of our party’s history in 1999. We will do it again this March 8," he told some 500 supporters in Kampung Kerinchi, Kuala Lumpur, last night.

Khairy, who is Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s son-in-law, addressed the gathering after launching the Umno Youth election machinery in the area.

The 32-year-old politician then embarked on a tirade against Anwar, adding that he wanted the opposition supporters in the area to hear his words.

"When I came here, I saw the flags of PKR raised. They (PKR) say this is a ‘grey’ area. Well, I say we will chase all of them out from Lembah Pantai," he said.

He repeatedly called Anwar a "traitor and hypocrite".

Khairy : Youths' Future Lies With BN

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 19 (Bernama) -- Voters, especially the younger generation, should continue to give their mandate to the Barisan Nasional (BN) to ensure that their future and well-being are looked after.

BN Youth deputy chairman Khairy Jamaluddin said only the BN could fulfil the promises made while the opposition parties would not be able to make good their promises.

He said the opposition's plan to turn the country into a welfare state would raise the deficit in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to 12 per cent and burden the people as it would increase the country's debts.

"I hope the youths will look at what each party has to offer. It must make realistic promises. If you look at PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat), it makes only empty promises," Khairy, who is also Umno Youth deputy chief, told reporters after launching the Lembah Pantai BN election machinery here tonight.

He was commenting on the perceived change of mood among the younger generation following the street demonstrations.

Asked on the feelings of the Indian community towards BN, Khairy said he was confident that it would continue to support BN after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had given his assurance that the government would give serious attention to their problems and requests.

"In BN, we have no denial syndrome. Actually, the Indian community still needs our assistance and support," he said.

On the possibility of PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's daughter, Nurul Izzah challenging Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil in Lembah Pantai, Khairy said it would not pose a problem to Shahrizat as she was a credible leader.

Present at the launching were BN Federal Territory Youth chief Datuk Norza Zakaria and Lembah Pantai Youth chief Norazmi Mohamadan.