Deep inside, I am still Umno, says KJ

FORMER Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, has spoken candidly about the prospects of a possible return to the party, saying he did not intend to ‘fight’ with anyone in the party but only had one goal, which is to see Umno improve.

“If one day I decide to return to Umno, this is not directed at any particular leader. We must not forget that there must be efforts to restore the party’s image.

“I do not want to see this as a way for me to return to politics to gain any position. My return to Umno must come with a commitment from all parties involved, both the current leadership and myself.

“But my idealism is to see Umno change, become better, more relevant, fresher and with more integrity. I feel I cannot compromise on this if I am to return.

“If you can accept me, as Kurt Cobain said, ‘Come as you are KJ’, and I also accept (the party’s disciplinary board’s) decision, then I think there’s something to discuss later,” the former health minister said in Keluar Sekejap yesterday.

On Dec 1, Umno president, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, said Umno is open to accepting former members such as Khairy and former Umno vice president, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, if they prove their commitment to the party.

Since his expulsion from Umno in January last year, Khairy said he has not joined any other political party, despite receiving offers from several parties, both formally and informally.

He also rejected offers to run in state elections, as his heart remains ‘bound’ to Umno and he considers himself an Umno member for life, even though he was expelled.

He said he still does not fully understand the reason for his expulsion.

“For me, in my heart, I am still an Umno member. I didn’t leave Umno (even though) I was expelled from the party. To this day, I am not quite sure why I was expelled.

“But if you point a weapon to my head, I will still stand by Umno. My heart belongs to Umno. I accept what Datuk Ahmad Zahid said earlier.

“I don’t want to make fun of anyone. I don’t want to make cynical remarks because this is serious. If someone speaks seriously and kindly, we should speak seriously and kindly,” he said.

Hati saya masih bersama UMNO, kata KJ

BEKAS Ketua Pemuda UMNO, Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar mengakui tidak menyertai mana-mana parti sehingga kini meskipun mendapat pelbagai tawaran kerana masih sayangkan parti lamanya.

Menurut Khairy Jamaluddin, beliau masih menganggap dirinya sebagai ahli UMNO walaupun dipecat daripada parti itu pada Januari 2023.

“Sejak saya dipecat, saya tak sertai mana-mana parti walaupun ada tawaran. Hampir semua parti membuat tawaran secara rasmi atau tidak langsung kepada saya dan saya tak terima.

“Malah saya diberikan peluang untuk menjadi calon sewaktu pilihan raya negeri (PRN) pun saya tak nak, sebab dalam hati saya sebenarnya masih lagi ahli UMNO.

“Saya tak keluar daripada UMNO, saya kena pecat dan sampai hari ini saya tak berapa tahu kenapa saya dipecat,” katanya menerusi siaran podcast Keluar Sekejap pada Jumaat.

Pada 25 November lalu, dilaporkan Majlis Kerja Tertinggi UMNO sebulat suara untuk melepaskan dan menarik semula penggantungan keahlian Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman sebagai ahli parti itu berkuat kuasa serta-merta.

Susulan itu, Presiden UMNO, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi berkata, parti itu bersedia membuka kembali ruang terhadap bekas pimpinan UMNO yang sebelum ini berdepan dengan pemecatan.

Mengulas lanjut, Khairy Jamaluddin berkata, beliau tidak melihat peluang itu sebagai salah satu jalan untuknya kembali ke politik supaya dapat memegang sebarang jawatan.

“Sebaliknya, kembali saya ke UMNO ini mesti datang dengan satu iltizam daripada semua pihak yang terlibat…pemimpin sedia ada dan saya sendiri akan patuh sekiranya kembali kepada disiplin parti.

“Tetapi idealisme saya untuk melihat UMNO yang berubah, lebih baik, relevan, segar dan berintegriti. Kalau saya kembali untuk jadi pak turut sahaja, saya tak mahu.

“Kalau boleh terima saya seseorang yang masih lagi setia kepada parti tetapi ada idealisme sendiri…bukan kata saya nak pergi lawan siapa-siapa tetapi saya ada impian untuk UMNO menjadi lebih baik,” ujarnya.

 

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