'If Zahid hadn’t said yes, I wouldn’t have come' - KJ on return to Umno HQ

KUALA LUMPUR – Former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin described his attendance at the Umno Youth General Assembly as a deeply emotional moment, three years after being expelled from the party.

He said his presence at the assembly was at the invitation of the current Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh and was made with the consent of Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“Last night, I met Datuk Seri Zahid at a tahlil event for the late Tun Abdul Razak and I asked him directly whether I could attend today.

“I told him that if he did not give his permission, I would not come. Alhamdulillah, he said I was welcome to attend,” he said when met after the Umno Youth General Assembly at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.

The former Rembau MP revealed that he attended the assembly as an observer and would take a gradual approach in determining his next steps.

“Today, I return as an observer. InsyaAllah, after this I will do what is necessary...one step at a time,” he said.

When asked about Dr Akmal’s suggestion that Umno should leave the unity government, the former youth and sports minister said the issue was more complex and could not be viewed simplistically.

He explained that Umno Youth remains aligned with the party’s decision to stay with the unity government until the next election, in order to ensure that the country’s political stability is not disrupted.

“What is important is the message from the youth wing. Dr Akmal has said that he himself will play a role in ensuring that Umno’s principles and red lines are not violated by any party within the unity government.

“He also stressed that this is not an assembly driven by hatred. Malay unity should not make other communities feel threatened.

“I see this effort as sincere and hope it will unite Malays without turning into an agenda of hostility towards any other race,” he added.