‘Very nice of him': Khairy non-committal on Umno return despite Dr Akmal's olive branch to suspended leaders
Free Malaysia Today reported that the former Umno leader acknowledged the gesture but remained non-committal about rejoining.
'That's very nice of him,' he reportedly said.
'I'm thankful for his comments and support, and I'll certainly consider it.'
Yesterday, Dr Akmal reportedly said he was ready to act as a bridge to bring back suspended leaders Khairy Jamaluddin, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Shahril Hamdan into the party.
He said his only goal was to ensure Umno remained strong as a family.
Dr Akmal also urged suspended or sacked former Umno leaders to set aside their egos if they still care for the party.
He also said that Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had expressed his willingness to accept appeal letters from those affected by disciplinary actions.
In January 2023, Umno announced that former Youth chief Khairy was sacked from the party along with former Selangor chapter chief Tan Sri Noh Omar, citing breaches of party discipline.
In addition, former vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and former information chief Shahril Sufian Hamdan were suspended for six years, along with Datuk Maulizan Bujang and Datuk Seri Mohd Salim Sharif.
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For Akmal, on the other hand, the demand from the DAP Youth to remove him from the equation will not happen because that would mean the end of the parties' union. It is a stalemate, as neither can afford to hold on to political power in the government without the other. Furthermore, that is why they are called flies, dogs or wild boars in the heat of the moment if compared with the DAP's election campaign of never working with UMNO because it is led by a corrupt leader. Likewise on the part of Akmal. If his leader had made the sumpah laknat or the curse oath or oath of damnation of not supporting Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister, working with DAP, only to later renege on it, surely Akmal could eventually accept him being labelled a stray dog or a fly. Ultimately, it is being able to remain and retain the government that is of consideration and if ending the cooperation will impact it, then it is not an option. Put it the other way round. 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It being sinister is not a mere conjecture, as Rafizi, during a press conference, implied it to be so, repeatedly hinting that the attack was related to his involvement with whistle-blowers regarding a major scandal. Amid a steady stream of well-wishers and expressed anger over the cowardly attack, the usually steely Rafizi, who in the past faced threats and even incarceration squarely, was a teary-eyed Rafizi on a couple of occasions. Obviously, the attack on his only son got to him. Despite that, he pledged to press on with the fight against wrongdoings and wrongdoers. While his critics may brush it aside but the crux of the matter is that Rafizi's attempt to expose one or several wrongdoings had really infuriated certain parties so much so that they are willing to physically carry out their threats. All these occurred when Rafizi had started to criticise the current administration and personalities closely linked to it. 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