Don On Kj S Future Best Option Free Umno From Najib Worst Option Pas

---

 


Sunway University political scientist Wong Chin Huat has dismissed former minister Zaid Ibrahim’s suggestion that Khairy Jamaluddin and other sidelined Umno leaders join PAS.
Describing the idea as “most curious”, Wong pointed out that Zaid has long been a staunch critic of PAS and its brand of ethnocentric religious conservatism.
“It is unclear whether his advice is meant as honey or poison,” he told Malaysiakini.
Wong argued that joining PAS would be the “worst option” for Khairy, as he would not only lose his centrist and, to some extent, multiethnic support base but also struggle to gain traction within PAS due to his lack of Islamist credibility.
He added that the “second worst” option would be for Khairy to form his own party, as the field is already too crowded.
While noting that the best option for Khairy would be to “wait for his turn to return and lead Umno”, the political scientist added a caveat - the presence of imprisoned former Umno president Najib Abdul Razak.
Umno leaders with pro-Najib Abdul Razak flyers“Umno may not survive if it remains under the shadowy control of Najib. Unlike ex-presidents in South Korea imprisoned for corruption who admitted guilt, apologised, quit politics, and got pardons, hence sparing their party (the same conservative party despite a change of party label) from irreparable damage, Najib is dragging his party down with him.
“If Khairy wants to be the reviving saviour of Umno, he must help Umno to re-articulate a new image, not sit on the fence, hoping for support from Najib to aid his return,” he added.
On a similar note, Wong stated that if the Malays abandon Umno due to its failure to reinvent itself after consecutive defeats in the 2018 and 2022 general elections, the Malay middle ground might shift toward PAS.
In that case, he said Khairy might eventually have to join the Islamist party to further his political ambitions.
“For Umno’s resurrection, Khairy should train his guns on Najib, not (Umno president Ahmad) Zahid (Hamidi) who sacked him. Zahid’s damage to Umno is much less than Najib’s.
Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi“If Khairy truly loves Umno as he claims, he must help Umno, even from the outside, to find its way to come back as a decent (i.e. not corrupt), moderate (i.e. not into ethnic outbidding), conservative nationalist party (i.e. holding on its old base),” he added.
PKR and DAP also options
According to Wong, Khairy’s second and third-best options would be joining PKR and DAP but not now.
“But when the right time comes, he would have a chance to rise to the top.
“Khairy’s sophistication can win the middle ground voters including some non-Malays, making him the kind of articulate and visionary Malay leaders these two multiethnic parties need,” he added.
Yesterday, Zaid said that PAS offered the best path for Khairy, who now hosts a popular and influential podcast called “Keluar Sekejap”, to make a political comeback.
Ex-minister Zaid IbrahimHe said the former health minister had two “realistic” choices – form his own party or contest as an independent.
“But if he doesn’t want those two options, then join PAS. He will definitely win.
“Then he can enter Parliament and find ways to build support to become prime minister – not immediately, but in the next 10 years or so.
“I’m sure PAS will take him. I will even campaign for him if he joins PAS and contests,” Zaid added.- Mkini

---