KHAIRY’S DILEMMA – ‘HE IS NOT LIKED BY LEADERS OF OTHER PARTIES BECAUSE HE MAY OUTSHINE THEM’ – POPULARITY WITH THE MASSES NOT ENOUGH, EXPERTS FEAR A TOUGH & LONG COMEBACK TRAIL FOR KJ DESPITE HIS CAPABILITIES – HOPEFULLY, KJ CAN GET HIS ACT TOGETHER & PROVE THEM WRONG!
Analysts pour cold water on Khairy’s comeback ambitions
Political analysts say Khairy Jamaluddin’s chances of making an impact in the Selangor state polls are weak because its too soon.
PETALING JAYA: Political analysts have poured cold water on Khairy Jamaluddin’s ambitions to make a comeback in the upcoming state elections in Selangor, following his recent sacking from Umno.
Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs told FMT that the state elections would be too rushed for Khairy as there was a lot of groundwork that needed to be done.
He said the former Umno Youth chief would find it difficult to “excel”.
“This is not a (party) presidential election. One needs to solve or at least deal with problems on the ground in any constituency (that he wants to contest in),” he added.
Oh also said that Khairy’s options of forming his own party, or joining another, was not feasible if he wanted to win in a state election, with rivals out to thwart a popular political figure like him.
Yesterday, the former Rembau MP told Channel NewsAsia (CNA) that he was considering making a political comeback in the upcoming Selangor state elections.
Khairy said Selangor is the “political epicentre” of Malaysia and he plans to build a new political base in the state.
Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya was of the same opinion, that Khairy could not rely on individual strength alone if he wanted to be successful.
And the idea of setting up a new party is a bad idea, he added.
“There are too many political parties,” he said, referring to Khairy’s comment on the political market being saturated.
Asked about the former Umno Youth chief’s prospects in other parties, Awang Azman said he might not be accepted by PKR because the party would not want to sour its relations with Umno, its partner in the current unity government.
“It would also be difficult for the PKR grassroots to accept (Khairy) because they contested against him in the general election (GE15),” Awang said.
Khairy contested the Sungai Buloh parliamentary seat in Selangor, in GE15, but was defeated by Pakatan Harapan’s R Ramanan by a 2,693 vote majority. FMT
Noh Omar more likely to join PN, but not KJ, says analyst
PETALING JAYA: Former Umno Supreme Council member Noh Omar is more likely to join Perikatan Nasional (PN) than Pakatan Harapan (PH), giving a boost to the opposition coalition in Selangor ahead of the state polls, says an analyst.
Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, however, said Noh’s former comrade, Khairy Jamaluddin, who was also sacked by Umno, is unlikely to join PN.
“Noh was a traditional Umno warlord. His style and beliefs are incompatible with PH’s reformist image, so I don’t see him joining them,” Oh told FMT.
“I think he is more suited for PN and he has built up a power base in Selangor. Being a local warlord, he and his supporters can easily move to a new platform.”
He said Khairy, the former Umno Youth chief, is a “political superstar” loved by voters who are not PN supporters, so joining the coalition led by Bersatu and PAS is not an option.
“He thrives on his progressive and reformist aura. This is incompatible with PN’s regressive and conservative views.
“But while he is popular among the masses who don’t subscribe to PN’s views, he is not fancied by leaders of other parties because he may outshine them. This is Khairy’s dilemma,” he said.
Oh said it is likely that Khairy will have to form a new political platform with other like-minded but similarly sidelined figures.
Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid also said Noh is more likely to join PN.
“He will probably be named Selangor menteri besar should PN be successful in wresting the state from PH,” he told FMT.
As for Khairy, his path is trickier, Fauzi said.
He said although Khairy’s political inclinations are more aligned to PH, joining the coalition may cast a shadow on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s relationship with Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He also said despite Khairy’s sacking, it may not be the end of his political journey in Umno.
“I believe Khairy has support among Umno’s younger generation. He can afford to wait until Zahid’s term as Umno president is over.
“Then (he may) stage a comeback once Zahid’s successor realises that Khairy can draw in the votes and can be the future face of Umno,” he said.
Noh and Khairy were sacked by Umno last week for breaching party discipline during the 15th general election. FMT
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