The Malaysian Insight

UMNO has lost an important voice in the party after former Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin was not included in the Malay party’s top ruling body, said analysts.

While the former youth and sports minister will now have more freedom to speak his mind, it is still a loss for Umno, said political science lecturer Tunku Mohar Tunku Mohd Mokhtar.

“The Supreme Council has lost a dissenting voice among its leaders. And for Khairy, the space to build up his influence among the grassroots is now limited,” said Tunku Mohar of International Islamic University Malaysia.

Khairy had lost in his bid to be the new Umno president in the party’s first polls after the 14th general election.

He was also not appointed to the party’s Supreme Council as he reportedly did not want any posts in the party if he failed to gain the presidency.

The Rembau MP has since criticised some of Umno leadership’s decisions, such as playing up racial and religious sentiments.

“After the Umno elections, what has my party done? Play up racial sentiments, collect donations for the president and repeat.

“Its not wrong to show solidarity with Najib (Razak) but is that all there is to the new Umno?” Khairy wrote on Twitter.

“After receiving the GE14 deathblow, it is still deaf to the voices of the people.”

Today, Khairy again took to Twitter to criticise the appointment and subsequent reversal of former attorney-general Mohamad Apandi Ali to the Supreme Council.

Another analyst, Awang Azman Awang Pawi, said it was unfortunate that Khairy would not be able to use his expertise to rebuild Umno.

“Khairy’s political enemies are in Pakatan Harapan not Umno. So, Khairy needs to use the party’s internal channels to air his concerns,” said Awang Azman of Universiti Malaya.  

“His experience as a former Youth chief and minister should be used for the benefit of the party.” – July 15, 2018.