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.
