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KUALA LUMPUR – It is “madness” to insist that there be no elections for Umno’s top two posts, possible contender Khairy Jamaluddin said.
In an Instagram story, the former Rembau MP questioned the call by 126 party divisions not to allow contests for the president and deputy president posts.
“Is Umno owned by these division chiefs only? Don’t the delegates and grassroots have the right to choose their leader?
“Stop this madness,” said Khairy who contested the Sg Buloh parliamentary seat in the general election in November but lost.
He added that Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is a “fighter” who will be willing to face a contest for the post.
“He will not be shaken when facing challengers. Make room for contests. Don’t kill democracy in Umno,” said Khairy, who had previously expressed his intention to be prime minister some day and to re-contest the Umno presidency.
In the 2018 party polls, he and party veteran Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah ran for the post but were defeated by Zahid.
Khairy told a forum held in Singapore two days ago that he was “still thinking” about whether he should contest the presidency in this year’s Umno elections, which must be held by May 19.
Recently, he was also speculated to be Sembrong MP Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein’s running mate. – The Vibes, January 12, 2023