Khairy’s dilemma: Return to Umno or become prime minister?

Former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar turned Keluar Sekejap podcast host needs to decide whether he wants to return to Umno or continue towards his goal of becoming Malaysia’s prime minister, said Bukit Gasing assemblyman Rajiv Rishyakaran

“The question for Khairy is, do you still want to be prime minister? This was declared a few years ago. He has made enough moves to show it is not just talks. He challenged Zahid for the presidency. He wants to be prime minister,” he said on an episode of Are We OK? podcast last night.

“He has done three different portfolios. Does he want to go back being minister? Maybe rotate a few more portfolios for the next 10 years or does he want to go straight to the next level to be prime minister.”

Rajiv was referring to Khairy who was Youth and Sports Minister, Health Minister and Science, Technology and Innovation Minister.

“That is the key question when he negotiates with any party now. If he wants to come back as prime minister he must come back as the head of the party. There is no two ways about it.

“Therein lies the difficulty for Khairy. He cannot come back to Umno saying he wants to be the head of Umno.

“Umno will say… hmm… then why bring you back for you to become my head? I dont think so. I think (Datuk Seri Ahmad) Zahid (Hamidi) is quite comfortable where he is.

Zahid has nothing to gain from Khairy’s return

“Zahid has nothing to gain by Khairy coming in and making his life difficult.”

Rajiv added that the niceties in the public as seen now should not be taken seriously.

“What is there in it for Zahid? Has Zahid gotten confidence that Khairy negotiated enough with him?’

Rajiv pointed out that if Khairy was not eyeing for president position and support Zahid until Zahid retires, there was no way for Khairy to return to Umno.

As for Zahid, Rajiv said that the Umno president is happy to be second fiddle to prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“He is quite being where he is but for him to be there, he needs to be head of BN, head of Umno. I think that he is not going to allow that to shake.

“Is he going to allow a contender to come back. It is the same for (Sembrong MP Datuk) Hishamuddin (Tun Hussein). If they don’t come back, then the threat to Zahid is not there.”

Hishamuddin was suspended for six years from Umno whereas Khairy was booted out of the party.