‘Million Youth’ meet not political, says Khairy

Najib (centre) gestures during his speech at the youth assembly in Putrajaya, May 28, 2011. — Picture by Choo Choy May

KUALA LUMPUR, May 30 — Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin today rejected accusations of funds abuse in the Million Youths Assembly held in Putrajaya across the weekend, saying the event had not been political in nature.


“I believe the one million youth came voluntarily to take part in all events held during the three-day programme. The opposition is making this an issue because they were worried of the great response from youths,” he was quoted by Bernama Online today.

Khairy was responding to PKR Youth’s claim today that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had spent taxpayers’ funds and exploited the World Youth Day event in Putrajaya to defend the ruling Barisan Nasional’s (BN) narrow political agenda.

In his speech at the event on Saturday, Najib called on attending youths to “defend Putrajaya” from the opposition if they wished to see Malaysia transformed into a developed country.

Today, Khairy claimed opposition parties were taking aim at the event as they hoped it would fall short of its aim.

“The response was unbelievable and it was a sign that the youths are starting to support the government agenda under the 1 Malaysia concept which is youth-friendly and aimed at empowering them,” he added.