Khairy Jamaluddin continues to captivate public attention long after he departs from UMNO, despite facing setbacks such as being dismissed from the party and losing his parliamentary seat in the recent GE15. Rather than fading into obscurity, Khairy cleverly embraced a new role as a DJ on Malaysia's popular HOT FM, ensuring that he remains in the minds of listeners and the wider audience, maintaining both his presence and relevance. Khairy understood the danger of becoming forgotten once he was ousted from UMNO and decided to engage with the public actively. As the saying goes, "Melayu mudah lupa" (Malays tend to forget easily). There may be some truth to this adage, after all.
In addition to his role as a radio DJ, Khairy has ventured into the realm of podcasts, a medium independent of governmental influence, allowing him to freely discuss various topics of national importance, ranging from politics and economics to social issues and beyond. Khairy co-hosts a podcast called "Keluar Sekejap" (KS) with another former politician, Shahril Hamdan, who also faced a six-year suspension from UMNO and now operates independently. The recorded podcast episodes can be found on YouTube for those more inclined toward visual content.
Upon visiting the podcast platform, one would discover various topics in their discussions. Some of these discussions prove enlightening, particularly for those who need to be better-versed in current events within Malaysia.
In a notable podcast episode, Shahril asked Khairy about Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's decision to welcome the band Coldplay to Malaysia, which had prompted claims by leaders of the Islamic party PAS that the band harboured an LGBT agenda. One PAS centre work committee member, Nasrudin Hassan, shared it on his Facebook page.
"If you don't want to watch Coldplay, simply don't go. That's all," Khairy responded during his Keluar Sekejap YouTube program alongside former UMNO information chief Shahril Hamdan.
Anwar Ibrahim highlighted Coldplay's strong environmental advocacy, including their commitment to making their tours more eco-friendly and reducing their carbon footprint.
Khairy emphasized that Malaysians were craving live concerts, and locals would travel to neighbouring countries to attend such events if artists chose not to perform in Malaysia.
"Coldplay has always bypassed Malaysia, but surprisingly, they are coming here in November. I have never had the chance to watch Coldplay like Shahril as I eagerly awaited their arrival in our country. I may not be part of the T20, but there are undeniable benefits associated with the concert. It is a major event, attracting foreign visitors who will contribute to Malaysia's economy. If tickets sell out quickly, they might consider adding dates, bringing further business opportunities to our nation. This is what we should be focusing on," Khairy explained.
In the meantime, Shahril questioned PAS's criticism of Coldplay while remaining silent about other major concerts held during their time in the federal government.
"Numerous concerts took place when PAS was in power, yet they remained silent. This is another example of how it's easy to criticize, but PAS's attacks miss the mark," Shahril pointed out.
Have you had the chance to listen to the Keluar Sekejap podcast? Do you find the hosts' approach to political topics refreshing and more candid?
Aliza M. is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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