Does Khairy Jamaluddin still hold to the view that Anwar is the best in navigating identity politics in this country?

Does Khairy Jamaluddin still hold to the view that Anwar is the best in navigating identity politics in this country?

13 Mar 2024 • 10:30 AM MYT

FLK
Used to do a bit of work in corporate restructuring, corporate `undertaker.

Image credit: Utusan

In an interview with Prof Meredith Weiss for the “Changing Malaysia” series in March 2019, when asked whether there’s a New Malaysia, Khairy Jamaluddin said the following:-He is most concerned about the future ethnic divisions in Malaysia which became more pronounced post-GE13
He is of the view that Pakatan Harapan who was installed as the government in May 2018 has consciously or unconsciously created this Malay discontent
He felt that for all of Anwar’s shortcomings – which Anwar has many – he is of the view that Anwar is perhaps most suited to become Prime Minister as his strength – his only strength – is that he’s able to navigate identity politics probably better than anybody else in Malaysia, and certainly better than Mahathir.

When the interview was conducted with Khairy, the public was well aware that the then PM, Tun Mahathir was supposed to relinquish his position and appoint his publicly anointed successor Anwar to succeed him as the PM.


An unforeseen aberration, which even the feng shui experts did not managed to predict, happened almost a year after that interview.


Anwar was left out in the cold while Khairy returned to the government, firstly as the Minister for Science & Technology and then the Minister of Health.


After that aberration, Anwar is now the PM of the country.


And Khairy now is out of the government but is also a `freelancer’ i.e he is not affiliated to any political party.


In times where a national healing and reconciliation is needed because of a bitterly fought election in Nov 2022, the ethnic divisions that appeared first as a crack now looks like a crevasse.


Given that there is an increase in murmurs and discontent amongst the ordinary rakyat on the performance and promised deliverables from Anwar at present, does Khairy still believe that Anwar is still the most suited and continue in leading this nation including into and after the next GE?