Latest news with #Khairy
The Sun
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Chatter builds over possible return to Umno by Khairy
PETALING JAYA: Speculation is mounting over the possible return of former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, as political observers remain divided on whether his comeback would reinvigorate or disrupt the party's current course. Some believe it could help modernise Umno's image and appeal, while others warn of internal resistance and lingering distrust among party members. Senior Fellow at the Nusantara Academy of Strategic Research, Prof Dr Azmi Hassan described the rumours as a strategic move, likely initiated by his supporters, to test party sentiment and assess the response of grassroots. 'The speculation may be a calculated effort from his camp to gauge public and internal reactions,' Azmi told theSun in a WhatsApp reply. Azmi said many grassroots members still view Khairy and others who have left or been suspended from the party as disloyal for their past criticisms of the party leadership. 'For me, the grassroots reaction to their return is negative because they are seen as having betrayed the party. While they were outside, they attacked the leadership. Even among the Umno supreme council members, there is reluctance to accept their return.' Khairy remains a popular figure, particularly among urban and younger voters, said Azmi, but he questioned whether the popularity could translate into electoral success for Umno and its coalition partner, Barisan Nasional (BN). 'Support from outside the party is important, but the question is whether that can be turned into actual votes and renewed confidence in Umno and BN.' Political commentator Shahbudin Husin said Khairy is not the only figure whose return is being discussed. He said former Umno vice president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, who was suspended in early 2023 along with several others for breaching party discipline, also has strong backing. 'There are rumours that Khairy is planning a return, but there are also other former leaders such as Hishammuddin who deserve to be reinstated. Their return could help strengthen Umno as they command significant following.' However, he emphasised that any return must come with meaningful reforms, urging the party to hold internal elections before the 16th General Election (GE16). 'If Umno is serious about change, there must be party elections before GE16. If Hishammuddin and Khairy return but hold no positions, it would signal no real shift to the public. 'Bringing them back should not stop at just the two. All suspended or expelled leaders should be considered, followed by a proper mandate through elections.' Universiti Sains Malaysia political analyst Prof Datuk Dr Sivamurugan Pandian believes that Khairy and Hishammuddin have proven themselves through their past contributions to Umno and the country. 'Both leaders are seen as bringing progressive leadership. They are credible and respected across the political divide. 'Urban voters, professionals and fence-sitters may see them as role models, thanks to their articulate messaging and appeal to the youth.' Sivamurugan stressed that the current leadership must be reassured that any return is based on loyalty and a shared vision, not personal ambition. Khairy, the former MP for Rembau and former health minister, was sacked from Umno in January 2023, while Hishammuddin, the Sembrong MP, was suspended for breaching party discipline. Umno performed poorly in the last general election, winning only 27 parliamentary seats. Khairy narrowly lost the Sungai Buloh parliamentary seat, a Pakatan Harapan stronghold, to then newly appointed PKR vice-president R. Ramanan in a seven-way contest.
Rakyat Post
5 days ago
- Business
- Rakyat Post
'I'm Living My Best Life' KJ Dismisses Rumours Of Returning To Politics
Subscribe to our FREE Former youth and sports minister-turned-podcaster Khairy Jamaluddin has dismissed rumours about him returning to government work under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. According to media reports, he said he is content with his current business pursuits and highlighted his enthusiasm for promoting Malaysian products through his podcast Keluar Sekejap which he co-hosts with Shahril Hamdan, a former Economic Director at the Prime Minister's Office from 2021 to 2022. 'I'm living my best life; why would I want to leave this? I enjoy working with brands and promoting Malaysian products,' he said at a product launch event. Khairy was a guest of honour at popular tea brand Tealive's launch of its three-in-one sachets. His presence there spotlights his ongoing commitment to working with local brands through his podcast, where he has actively highlighted Malaysian enterprises. Image: YouTube | Keluar Sekejap Speculation surrounding the political future of the former UMNO Youth chief began circulating following the resignation of Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad. Both Rafizi and Nik Nazmi submitted their resignations after failing to defend their posts during the PKR election last month. This triggered speculation suggesting that Khairy was expected to return as a minister. Khairy declined to comment when asked about former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's call for Malays, including members of other parties, to join the Sekretariat Orang Melayu movement, New Straits Times Khairy's political journey gained momentum when he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Rembau in 2008, a position he held until 2022. Khairy at UMNO General Assembly in 2012. Image: Firdaus Latif He served as the Minister of Youth and Sports from 2013 to 2018, where he was known for initiatives aimed at youth development and sports excellence. In 2020, he was appointed as the Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, and later, in 2021, as the Minister of Health. In these roles, Khairy played a pivotal part in Malaysia's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including overseeing the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme. Khairy contested for presidency of UMNO in 2018 but was defeated by Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. His subsequent calls for party reform led to tensions within UMNO, culminating in his expulsion from the party in 2023. Following his departure from UMNO, Khairy co-founded the Keluar Sekejap podcast with Shahril. It has become a platform for candid discussions on Malaysian politics, governance, and societal issues, attracting a diverse audience and reinforcing Khairy's role as a thought leader in the country's political discourse. Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
'I'm living my best life now,' says KJ on joining Cabinet speculation
PUTRAJAYA: Khairy Jamaluddin today kept mum over speculation that he may join the Cabinet under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's leadership. The former health minister and former Rembau member of parliament said he is currently enjoying life as a podcast host and radio presenter. "I'm enjoying a good life now. Why would I want to give this up?" he said when met by reporters at the launch of Tealive's 3-in-1 Instant Drink Powder at a shopping mall here today. Speculation surrounding the political future of the former Umno Youth chief arose following the resignation of Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad. Both Rafizi and Nik Nazmi submitted their resignations after failing to defend their posts during the PKR election last month. This triggered speculation suggesting that Khairy was expected to return as a minister. Khairy declined to comment when asked about former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's call for Malays, including members of other parties, to join the Sekretariat Orang Melayu movement. "I'm not a member of Perikatan Nasional or Umno at the moment. It is best that I don't comment. Let's focus on today's launch," he said.
Daily Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
No, I'm living my best life, Khairy Jamaluddin says on joining Cabinet
Published on: Thursday, June 05, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jun 05, 2025 By: Minderjeet Kaur, FMT Text Size: Khairy Jamaluddin was sacked from Umno in January 2023 for breaching party discipline during the 15th general election. PETALING JAYA: Khairy Jamaluddin has dismissed speculation that he may join Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's Cabinet, saying he has no reason to leave his current lifestyle. Speaking to reporters after a product launch today, the former health minister said he was 'living his best life' now. 'Why would I want to leave this?' he said. Speculation on Khairy's possible appointment to the Cabinet arose following the resignations of Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad from their ministerial posts. The former Umno Youth chief said in February that he remained undecided on his next move, following calls for him to stay out of Umno for good or join PAS. In response to Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi reportedly saying that those who 'keluar sekejap (exit briefly)' from the party should stay out, he said it was 'an interesting suggestion'. Khairy and ex-information chief Shahril Hamdan started the 'Keluar Sekejap' podcast in 2023, discussing political, social and other contemporary issues. Khairy was sacked from Umno in January 2023 for breaching party discipline during the 15th general election. Shahril, meanwhile, was given a six-year suspension in August 2022. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
New Straits Times
18-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
KJ urges fans to join TMJ in Harimau's new journey
KUALA LUMPUR: KJ says let TMJ do something about it. Ex-sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin has urged football fans to let Harimau Malaya take a new direction under Crown Prince of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sultan Ibrahim after nothing else worked with the national team. "Of course, there are people not happy with it. But for me, why not try? We've tried everything else, but everything else doesn't work well. "So maybe with the approach and experience that Tunku Mahkota Ismail has with JDT (Johor Darul Ta'zim), we can see some success in the national team. Hopefully, the magic touch can happen with this national team project," said Khairy. Khairy, who is a former FAM vice president, supports bold reforms for the national team, but warned against relying too heavily on naturalised players. "The naturalisation project has benefits, like speeding up achievements for the national team. But at the same time, we must balance it. "If there are too many (foreign players), our local players don't get opportunities. I always believe in balance. We've already agreed there is a policy on naturalisation and heritage players, whether people agree or not, it's there. But it must be implemented in a way that doesn't overshadow our homegrown talent." Appointed as Johor Youth Adviser in 2023, Khairy has had a close-up view of how the Southern Tigers evolved into the nation's gold standard for football excellence under Tunku Mahkota Ismail. "Of course, it's hard to compare JDT to other teams. JDT operate at a much higher capacity. Tunku Mahkota Ismail's target isn't just winning here. He wants to win at Asian Champions League Elite-level. He wants to be the best in Asia. "So that's why the infrastructure of JDT is different. The structure of how they organise JDT is different. But I think other teams can learn the best practices from JDT. "Of course, you can't have the budget of JDT, you can't have JDT facilities. But you can slowly build towards that by having professionals come in and structuring the way Tunku Mahkota Ismail does. "For me, he has put a template. Not everyone can follow it immediately, but it's a template of a professionally run football club that is chasing regional and global victory, not just in Malaysia." Khairy believes these same principles, such as professionalism, structure and vision, are what the national team need if they are to rise from mediocrity, along with a module that could be followed by other M-League teams too.
