Khairy’s decision to back Anwar seen as survival strategy
Khairy Jamaluddin’s declaration is surprising given his previous reluctance to support Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister, says James Chin. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: A political analyst construes Khairy Jamaluddin’s declaration of support for Anwar Ibrahim’s government as the utterance of someone seeking political survival.
James Chin, professor of Asian Studies at the University of Tasmania, told FMT he believed the former health minister saw his odds as being better with Umno partnering with Pakatan Harapan than with Perikatan Nasional.
He said this was in the face of his limited prospects under Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
“This reformer attitude could be him trying to recalibrate his reputation because he has always projected himself this way within Umno,” he said.
Chin said Khairy’s declaration was surprising given his previous reluctance to support Anwar as prime minister.
“But I guess if Umno moves to have an alliance with PN again, his chances will be limited.”
Yesterday, at a forum organised by Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, Khairy said Umno would continue supporting the Anwar-led unity government if he or his allies gained the party’s leadership in the Umno elections.
Chin said Khairy lacked popularity among Umno’s grassroots and would probably fail in his ambition to lead the party.
Khairy ran for the Umno presidency in 2018 and lost.
Tunku Mohar Mokhtar of the International Islamic University Malaysia said Khairy should not assume to be speaking for his allies in voicing support for Anwar.
“The main problem is whether he can ensure his allies agree with him. What if they decide otherwise?
“We still don’t know the grassroots’ sentiment. There are still many within Umno who may think PN is the better option for a political alignment,” he said.
He also said Anwar would do well to be cautious of Khairy’s support, given his track record of backing former prime ministers Muhyiddin Yassin and Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs said it was unlikely Khairy would succeed in a contest against Zahid in the party polls.
“Khairy is just testing the water. Zahid enjoys widespread grassroots and divisional support,” he said. “Political trust is an expensive commodity and it is transactional and ephemeral.”
The 2022 Umno general assembly is from today to Saturday.
PETALING JAYA: A political analyst construes Khairy Jamaluddin’s declaration of support for Anwar Ibrahim’s government as the utterance of someone seeking political survival.
James Chin, professor of Asian Studies at the University of Tasmania, told FMT he believed the former health minister saw his odds as being better with Umno partnering with Pakatan Harapan than with Perikatan Nasional.
He said this was in the face of his limited prospects under Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
“This reformer attitude could be him trying to recalibrate his reputation because he has always projected himself this way within Umno,” he said.
Chin said Khairy’s declaration was surprising given his previous reluctance to support Anwar as prime minister.
“But I guess if Umno moves to have an alliance with PN again, his chances will be limited.”
Yesterday, at a forum organised by Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, Khairy said Umno would continue supporting the Anwar-led unity government if he or his allies gained the party’s leadership in the Umno elections.
Chin said Khairy lacked popularity among Umno’s grassroots and would probably fail in his ambition to lead the party.
Khairy ran for the Umno presidency in 2018 and lost.
Tunku Mohar Mokhtar of the International Islamic University Malaysia said Khairy should not assume to be speaking for his allies in voicing support for Anwar.
“The main problem is whether he can ensure his allies agree with him. What if they decide otherwise?
“We still don’t know the grassroots’ sentiment. There are still many within Umno who may think PN is the better option for a political alignment,” he said.
He also said Anwar would do well to be cautious of Khairy’s support, given his track record of backing former prime ministers Muhyiddin Yassin and Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs said it was unlikely Khairy would succeed in a contest against Zahid in the party polls.
“Khairy is just testing the water. Zahid enjoys widespread grassroots and divisional support,” he said. “Political trust is an expensive commodity and it is transactional and ephemeral.”
The 2022 Umno general assembly is from today to Saturday.
I have always considered Khairy Jamaluddin as an iffy character, not to be trusted, from his ECM Libra days, to his leveraging of Pak Lah's 4th Floor Boys.
ReplyDeleteThe stench surrounding his maneuverings as SIL was a key factor in Pak Lah's downfall. No doubt Mahathir was shit-stirring and poking from the outside, but Maha would not have succeeded if the reek was only imaginary.
A fairly successful half-term as Health Minister isn't enough to cleanse away the past smell sticking to him.
Anwar Ibrahim must be Very Careful dealing with this KJ.