KUALA LUMPUR – Former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin was visibly moved after receiving a thunderous round of applause from delegates when his name was mentioned in the policy speech delivered by Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh at the Umno Youth General Assembly held at Dewan Merdeka, World Trade Centre (WTC) here on Thursday.
Khairy, better known as KJ, was also seen standing up from his seat with an emotional expression, raising his hand towards the delegates as a gesture of respect.
Dr Akmal said KJ’s presence was not merely symbolic of the return of a former leader, but a reflection that Umno remains a ‘home’ for its past leaders.
“Pushed from left and right, pressured from above and below… today I want to say this reflects the big-heartedness of the Umno president (Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi). Alhamdulillah, we have invited the chief (referring to KJ) back into this Dewan Merdeka.
“I believe this is our home. This is where everything began,” he said during his policy speech at the Umno General Assembly (PAU) 2025.
Khairy, who served as Umno Youth chief from 2009 to 2018, was expelled from the party for breaching party discipline during the 15th General Election (GE15).
In the 2022 general election, Khairy openly criticised Zahid, particularly after Barisan Nasional (BN) fielded him to contest in Sungai Buloh, a stronghold of Pakatan Harapan (PH).
Dr Akmal also touched on differences of opinion that had previously existed within the party, including debates over proposals to accept former leaders of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), reflecting Umno’s internal dynamics.
“Some may agree, some may disagree. But this is Umno. We can differ in opinions, but we have never betrayed the struggle. We are one Umno family.
“Even though KJ is currently a radio presenter (DJ), God willing, KJ will return to this party,” he said.