Umno leader Khairy Jamaluddin said the party would continue to support prime minister Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government if he, or his allies, are elected as president.
He expressed that he did not support “backroom machinations” for a change in administration, adding that he wanted Anwar’s government to last and remain stable.
“There are concerns that if there’s a change in Umno’s leadership, it will bring about political instability that will lead to the collapse of the government, another Sheraton Move, and another government will come in and a new prime minister (will be) sworn in.
“I want to say this clearly in front of all these people here: if I or my allies win the presidency, win the leadership of my party, we will commit our support to the unity government, to Anwar Ibrahim, and to you,” he was quoted as saying by FMT.
The former Rembau MP was speaking at a forum organised by Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. Also in attendance was Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
Meanwhile, Khairy described the Umno’s upcoming election as “everything”, which may lead to a reformation of the party, to obtain relevance or “its rest in peace”.
Talks of Khairy vying for the top post first began during his GE15 campaign trail back in November last year, when the former health minister contested in the Sungai Buloh parliamentary constituency.
He eventually lost the seat to Pakatan Harapan’s R Ramanan.
Despite not giving a clear timeline in November, Khairy had stressed that he would not pursue his ambition immediately after GE15.
However, the following month in December, Khairy did not rule out challenging current Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for the position.
For the general election, Khairy had to vacate his Rembau parliamentary seat in Negeri Sembilan for Umno number two Mohamad Hasan who is aligned with Zahid.
The son-in-law of former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he had little choice but to opt to contest in the PKR stronghold of Sungai Buloh in Selangor after the Umno leadership left him in the dark. – Malaysiakini