Asked by the duo why he decided to be a radio announcer, Khairy had, at first, joked that he wanted to be with them.

Khairy was former Rembau member of parliament (MP).

In the 15th General Election (GE15), he contested in the Sungai Buloh parliamentary seat under the Barisan Nasional ticket but lost to PKR’s Datuk R. Ramanan.

The former Umno Youth chief was later sacked for violating the party’s Constitution in GE15.

Khairy went on to share his daily morning routine after losing in GE15 in November last year.

He said he would go back to sleep after performing dawn prayers and have his wife, Nori Abdullah, send their children to school.

“It has been so long since I rested. It’s not (about being) depressed. But now I have no choice but to get some rest (after the GE15 defeat),” he said.

He recollected the Nov 19 polling day ,which he described as historic, as he had not only lost to Ramanan but also lost the positions of an MP or a minister.

Khairy said as he had been left jobless, he thought he would be eligible for government pension as he was the minister for several portfolios and had been a three term MP.

“I do not have an income so I asked about my pension. But I was told I would get it when I turn 50. But I am 47 now which means I will not have any income for (the next) three years.

“That is why I joined Hot FM (because of the big pay). And I was reminded why politicians hold on to their positions until they are old. This is because they want to wait for their pension,” joked Khairy.

Khairy said he just “froze”‘ and did not do anything after Nov 20 and thought of his future.

Referring to a widely circulated photograph of him sitting on a chair seemingly looking tired and helpless, Khairy said it was the last day of the GE15 campaign.

He said he was confident he had won the seat then.

“This was because everywhere I went, many people wanted to take selfies with me.

“I won in terms of selfies, but lost the votes,” he said.

Khairy also revealed that he would soon take on a management role with Johor Darul Ta’zim Football Club (JDT).

He thanked Tunku Mahkota of Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim for inviting him to be part of JDT, which he described as the best team in Malaysia.

“InsyaAllah, soon I will announce my involvement with JDT.

“But there is a little conflict because I am a supporter of Kedah because my mother is Kedahan,” he added.

Afraid of losing their new colleague, AG and Johan told Khairy that he does not need to join JDT as he had just got onboard at Hot FM.

However, Khairy said he could multitask and use Zoom to do his radio announcer duties.

Refusing to give up, they had playfully suggested that Khairy ask Tunku Ismail to delay (the appointment) instead.

To this, Khairy laughed and replied, “Do you think it’s easy for me to call Tunku Ismail?.”  NST

DJ not KJ’s first job post GE15

KUALA LUMPUR: Becoming Hot FM’s radio announcer is not Khairy Jamaluddin’s first job after the 15th General Election (GE15).

“I have some work. Some business. I have an appointment in (a) university, and (being) a researcher overseas,” he said when co-hosting the Bekpes Hot segment with AG and Johan.

Khairy marked his debut as a radio announcer on Hot FM this morning.

Before GE15, Khairy served as health minister and was former Rembau member of parliament. He lost the Sungai Buloh parliamentary seat in GE15 and was sacked from Umno for violating the party’s Constitution last month.

Laughter and jokes filled the airwaves throughout the four-hour segment and Khairy also spoke to callers on football, fitness, hobbies as well as urban planning.

Khairy said he hopes to have time to ride his motorcycle again and that he has taken up golfing.

He had humbly told a caller to address him as “KJ” and not YB (Yang Berhormat) as he was no longer an elected representative.

“Just call me KJ. How’s my voice? Great eh?,” asked Khairy.

At the end of the segment, Khairy said it was a good first experience and hopes to continue working at Hot FM.

Asked by AG and Johan on how he felt after co-hosting for four hours since 6am, Khairy said he was tired.

“I need the stamina (to do this). I respect you both.”

Khairy said he will return to co-host again and keep listeners updated on the next time he comes on air.

NST

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