The Malaysian Insight

THE authoritarian stance taken by Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in making a decision for all of its MPs lately has made it difficult for Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin to trust the Umno president.

Khairy, who is science, technology and innovation minister, cited an incident in October when a letter signed by the Umno president was given to Yang di-Pertuan Agong, in which Zahid stated that all Umno MPs have thrown their support behind PKR’s Anwar Ibrahim to become prime minister.

“I was never consulted or asked about this, let alone allow my name to be used by the president.

“Then there was the issue of the recording of a conversation between the president and the opposition leader (Anwar), which he (Zahid) first denied and wanted to lodge a police report, only to later admit it was genuine,” he said.

Another incident involved Zahid’s latest statement that all Umno MPs have withdrawn their support for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and his administration.

“The president said it was made unanimously by the Umno Supreme Council. However, there are some MPs who are council members who made a different decision.

“I have trust issues with the president. I can’t trust this president,” Khairy told reporters after visiting a proposed vaccination centre at the Iskandar Malaysia Studios today.

Khairy, however, said he will remain with the current government and will decide once Parliament convenes next month when Muhyiddin is expected to table his motion of confidence as a legitimate leader.

“I am still an Umno member and appeal for the party to wait until September and vote to ascertain the legitimacy of the government.

“I am still loyal to Umno so let me do my job, namely the vaccination programme.

“This is a question of people’s lives so, as long as there is no vote, let me do my job,” said Khairy, who is the coordinating minister for the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme. – August 8, 2021.