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 to meet BN Youth

(The Star) KUALA SELANGOR: A meeting of the Barisan Nasional Youth wings will be called to allow Umno Youth deputy head Khairy Jamaluddin to explain remarks attributed to him which had caused an uproar.

Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said he had spoken to MCA, MIC and Gerakan Youth chiefs and made arrangements for Khairy to explain to them.

“If there was a misunderstanding and if he (Khairy) had been misquoted, there is no reason for him to apologise.

“But if the misunderstanding had created confusion and it’s the confusion that we have to apologise for, then there’s nothing wrong with that,” he told reporters after opening the Kuala Selangor Umno delegates conference yesterday.

However, said Hishammuddin, he would call for the meeting only after the situation had become calmer.

He said that as the Barisan Youth chief he would settle the matter wisely and amicably.

Earlier, in his speech, he said MCA Youth should not push for an apology from Khairy as Umno members would be angry with such a move.

“We told the MCA that Khairy had said he was misinterpreted by the press and we have explained this through the right channel,” said Hishammuddin.

He also urged Umno Youth members not to succumb to their anger.

“Make your stand known but don’t act until you get instructions. We have the right platform to iron out the issue with the MCA Youth leaders.”

He also urged all Youth leaders not to be led by their emotions and not question issues pertaining to Malay rights that were raised in Umno meetings.

Earlier, Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Khairy should clarify and explain his comments which seem to have offended some component parties.

“I do not know what he really said. I told him if people ask for an explanation, then he has to answer,” said the Umno president and Prime Minister.

To a question on his advice to Khairy, Abdullah said: “My advice to him and to anyone else is that they should be careful when making statements because this could result in misunderstanding.”

“So it is very important to be careful when making comments. In Barisan Nasional, we have parties of different races in it, and if something comes up which is sensitive, then of course people would react to it.

“So Khairy should explain to them because they want to know from him,” he added.

Asked if Khairy should apologise, Abdullah said this would depend on what he had said.

“Only he knows whether what he said was the same as or different from what was reported,” he said yesterday.

khairy jamaluddin malaysia pm abdullah ahmad badawi umno mca hishamuddin hussein

Hishammuddin Considers Issue On Khairy's Remark Settled

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 24 (Bernama) -- Umno Youth Chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said he considers the issue evolving around his deputy Khairy Jamaludin's remark that downplayed the role of other Barisan National (BN) component parties, as having been resolved.

He said discussions with counterparts from the other component parties had been held, and all agreed that the issued had been resolved.

"I do not think we need to play up the issue any more," he told reporters after witnessing the 24th Royal Trophy National Oratory final competition here Thursday.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Fauziah Tengku Abdul Rashid were also at the event.

Hishammuddin said he planned to ask Khairy to elaborate further on the issue at an Umno Youth meeting, whose date he would decide later.

The Education Minister said it was suggested that the meeting be held after the Youth movements of the MCA and MIC had held their respective general meetings this Saturday.

MCA Youth Chief Datuk Liow Tiong Lai had said yesterday that the movement respected Umno Youth's stand and it held the opinion that all problems could be overcome at the Youth levels without affecting unity.

He said the issue, which evolved around the content of Khairy's speeches at Umno meetings including one in Kedah last Friday that had offended leaders of BN component parties, could be resolved amicably.

Khairy in his speech during these meetings had repeatedly stated that Umno was the backbone of the BN's strength and not other component parties.

A local Chinese daily had reported negative reactions of leaders from other BN component parties on the remarks made by Khairy.

tun mahathir mohamad pm abdullah ahmad badawi khairy jamaluddin mca hishamuddin hussein