Towering Malaysian but of Which Tower?

Well, well, well, a Towering Malaysian at last, perhaps recognised as a young but extremely powerful Malaysian ‘mover’!

The Utusan Malaysia has reported that Khairy Jamaluddin, deputy leader of UMNO Youth and son-in-law and close confidant of the Malaysian Prime Minister, has been selected as a member of The Forum of Young Global Leaders, which is based in Geneva, Switzerland.

Klaus Schwab, the executive chairman of the World Economic Forum announces today that Khairy is one of 238 youth leaders around the world who has been selected because of his interesting and varied background.

Schwab said that the forum members are made up of young authoritative personalities (aged not above 40), chosen from 8000 candidates, who demonstrate high commitments towards the success of their organisation.

Khairy said he is honoured by his selection. However, Schwab didn’t exactly detail which particular outstanding quality of Khairy had attracted the Forum, nor did he refer to the organization he associates with Khairy - UMNO Youth, ECM Libra or the Malaysian nation? Then, has Khairy been seen as a future leader of Malaysian politics, possibly of prime ministerial material, or perhaps as an outstanding young and upcoming businessman?

Meanwhile back at home, PAS vice president Husam Musa wants to know how Khairy has come by the RM 9.2 million with which he had purchased shares in ECM Libra.

Husam said: “It must be explained how he (Khairy) financed the purchase of the shares. As the son-in-law of the prime minister, he must explain how he made the purchase: whether he took a bank loan, or from his personal wealth, or with commissions, if any, he had received from ECM Libra [for his alleged role in Parkway’s purchase of stake in Pantai].”

The government hasn’t answered but Khairy is suing Husam for libel for the last bit, on the part about the alleged commission from Parkway’s purchase of Pantai. Opposition leader DAP’s Lim Kit Siang has also asked Khairy to explain his ‘unusual’ wealth, which remained unanswered as to date.