UMNO man predicts KJ may accept PN offer if made Selangor MB candidate
AFTER former UMNO leader Khairy Jamaluddin was invited to join Bersatu by its president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, UMNO Communications Director Datuk Lokman Adam is of the opinion that Khairy would accept the offer if he is named Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) menteri besar candidate in the upcoming Selangor state elections.
“This could be what the former health minister would demand of the Opposition coalition as ‘he appears to be a little impatient these days’,” said Lokman in a Facebook live session last night.
“If Khairy is not patient and does not want to wait for UMNO to take him back, he may accept the offer to stand in the Selangor polls under the PN ticket on the condition that he is made the candidate for the post of menteri besar.”
Khairy Jamaluddin (Photo credit: The Star)
Lokman did not mention the state that Khairy would be considered as the menteri besar candidate, but the possibilities are Selangor and Negeri Selangor.
The UMNO Supreme Council member also added that Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) should not be complacent as the unity government is “not safe” at the moment.
According to him, it would not be easy getting the Malay votes especially with PN spinning several issues concerning race and religion to give them the advantage.
Meanwhile, yesterday (May 17) Muhyiddin offered Khairy a spot on the party’s supreme council if he decided to join the party.
“There are two vacancies in the council and he has discussed the matter with other Bersatu leaders,” said the PN chairman.
To a question from one of the listeners about whether Khairy could emulate Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who was sacked from UMNO in the 1960s but was later accepted back before going on to become the prime minister, Lokman did not rule out the possibility.
According to Lokman, this requires Khairy to be patient and not rush to join the Opposition. He is not that stupid to rush into making decisions that could have serious repercussions for his political career.
“I too was sacked by party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi once but he was the one who reinstated my membership.”
Furthermore, Lokman pointed out that UMNO’s experience after the party helped Muhyiddin become prime minister, following the Sheraton Move in February 2020 is the reason why BN chose PH instead of PN in the last 15th General Election (GE15).
“Muhyiddin started bullying us after occupying the top post. He and the party did not appreciate the fact that UMNO agreed to support him although Bersatu only had 32 seats (at the time). He even used his power to split UMNO by rewarding some of its leaders and enticing them to join Bersatu.” — May 18, 2023
Lokman did not mention the state that Khairy would be considered as the menteri besar candidate, but the possibilities are Selangor and Negeri Selangor.
The UMNO Supreme Council member also added that Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) should not be complacent as the unity government is “not safe” at the moment.
According to him, it would not be easy getting the Malay votes especially with PN spinning several issues concerning race and religion to give them the advantage.
Meanwhile, yesterday (May 17) Muhyiddin offered Khairy a spot on the party’s supreme council if he decided to join the party.
“There are two vacancies in the council and he has discussed the matter with other Bersatu leaders,” said the PN chairman.
To a question from one of the listeners about whether Khairy could emulate Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who was sacked from UMNO in the 1960s but was later accepted back before going on to become the prime minister, Lokman did not rule out the possibility.
According to Lokman, this requires Khairy to be patient and not rush to join the Opposition. He is not that stupid to rush into making decisions that could have serious repercussions for his political career.
“I too was sacked by party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi once but he was the one who reinstated my membership.”
Furthermore, Lokman pointed out that UMNO’s experience after the party helped Muhyiddin become prime minister, following the Sheraton Move in February 2020 is the reason why BN chose PH instead of PN in the last 15th General Election (GE15).
“Muhyiddin started bullying us after occupying the top post. He and the party did not appreciate the fact that UMNO agreed to support him although Bersatu only had 32 seats (at the time). He even used his power to split UMNO by rewarding some of its leaders and enticing them to join Bersatu.” — May 18, 2023
KJ ambition is still to be PM someday.
ReplyDeleteSo he will play the necessary games.
Being a state MB is an important stepping stone, but not the only path