“Rare to see gratitude or humility” former adviser to Tun Abdullah, Kalimullah on Zahid and Tok Mat’s move to sack Khairy

Khairy Jamaluddin’s sacking from Umno comes as now surprise, says former adviser to the fifth Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Badawi, Datuk Seri Kalimullah Masheerul Hassan.

He said the Malay party has become irrelevant today and if the former Youth Chief wanted to remain in politics, he should branch out on his own.

“After all, he’s only 47,” he said in an Instagram posting @kalimullah.

Kalimullah said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was sacked at 45 and came back as Prime Minister twice, while Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was sacked by Umno and Dr Mahathir at the age of 50 and became Prime Minister 24 years later.

“Khairy? Who knows.

“One thing is certain though - neither (Datuk Seri Ahmad) Zahid Hamidi or Tok Mat (Umno Deputy President Datuk Seri Mohamad Hassan) are likely to make it as Prime Minister though they may have rid Umno of its “great white hope”.

“They are already too old. And weak,” he said.

He continued saying that coincidentally, when Zahid - the current Umno President, was arrested and sidelined by Dr Mahathir and Umno for being Anwar’s supporter in 1998, it was Khairy’s father-in-law Abdullah (then the Deputy Prime Minister) who intervened with Dr Mahathir.

He said Abdullah, who was fondly known as Pak Lah, was the one who brought Zahid back into the fold.

“I know that because Pak Lah’s Press Secretary Kamarulzaman Zainal and I helped Zahid prepare his “comeback” press statement,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said Tok Mat was the chief executive officer of Cycle and Carriage and was picked by Pak Lah (then Prime Minister) to be the Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar in 2004.

“And now both of them sacked his son-in-law? Obviously KJ must have done something unforgivable - like criticise Zahid and Tok Mat?

“In that sense, I am glad Pak Lah has dementia and cannot see all this happening,” he said.

Kalimullah said reiterated saying that there was nothing to be surprised with the turn of events.

“It’s very rare to see gratitude or humility or a real democrat in Malaysian politics,” he said, wishing Khairy good luck.

Yesterday, six members of Umno had either been sacked or suspended over alleged attempts to sabotage the party in the past general election.

Aside from Khairy, former Selangor Umno liaison committee chairman Tan Sri Noh Omar was also sacked, while Sembrong MP Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Umno Deputy Youth Chief Shahril Hamdan was suspended.

However, some have come in support of Zahid including Parti Makkal Sakti president Datuk Seri RS Thanenthiran who said lauded Zahid's remarkable courage to save Umno from its enemies.