According to sources close to the energetic first-term Rembau MP, Khairy has yet to indicate any loss of interest in politics although he has confirmed that he will “stand down” from defending his seat in the looming general election.
“Yes, he may not defend his Rembau seat but he may contest for other seats,” said a political aide who spoke on condition of anonymity. “He is a politician through and through. That much I can tell you.”
The news that the charismatic Umno Youth chief will not defend his Rembau seat was first reported by the Malay-language news website M-Star. It quoted the MP replying with a terse “Yes” by text message when asked if he was being serious in his Twitter posting on Sunday.
He said in the posting that he would be taking a break from politics but not before ushering in more youth support for Barisan Nasional, which is gearing for snap polls widely speculated to be held in the middle of next year.
“Hope to help win more youth support for BN in 2011 & work hard preparing for elections,” he twitted. “Then I’m taking a break from politics. Can’t wait.”
The father of two further said the break would give him more time to focus on “other things” like furthering his education.
Hate remains
The sudden turnabout, amid his intense effort to rake in youth support into BN’s hands, has triggered waves of speculation.
His enemies in Umno say he is sulking from being sidelined. He is the only the second Umno Youth chief not to be given a ministerial post, while his deputy, Razali Ibrahim, and one of his defeated rivals in the contest for the Youth chief post, Mukhriz Mahathir, were both made deputy ministers.
Khairy’s decision also came after the announcement of a minor revamp in Umno’s state leadership structure. Mukhriz, a son of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, was made the party’s deputy Kedah chief.
Sources close to Khairy admitted that he remained hated in the party, particularly among members of Mahathir’s camp, and that concerted efforts to kill off his political career were still a real threat.
Mahathir’s influence has played a pivotal role in denying Khairy a Cabinet title.
Najib impressed
Umno officials said party chief and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has been impressed with Khairy’s performance as Youth chief but that this was a double-edged sword and had caused an escalation in efforts to bury him.
A source said this could be one reason why he had decided to take a break. “The obstacles against his doing his job remain hard. Ironically, the problems are internal and not external.”
The source rubbished off allegations made by Khairy detractors that he was sulking.
“If he wanted to sulk and moan, he would have done so a long time ago, when he was not made a minister,” he said.
“He’s not your stupid orthodox Malay politician. He wants to do things differently and is honest in his intention to change things.”
1 comment:
wish u all the best KJ
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