KHAIRY Jamaluddin should act magnanimously towards his political rivals despite being recently booted out of Umno, pundits said. 

They said the ex-Rembau MP has a long political career ahead of him and should choose his path carefully. 

Last Friday, Khairy and another party stalwart, Noh Omar, were sacked from Umno for allegedly working against the party’s interests.   

Khairy had said that his sacking was unlawful as he did not receive a show-cause letter from the party’s disciplinary board. 

Dr Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia compared Khairy’s sacking to that of Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s, who was also dismissed after criticising the then party president Tunku Abdul Rahman in 1969. 

Mazlan added that even though Dr Mahathir was shown the door by Tunku, the Kedah-born leader went on to become the country’s longest-serving prime minister. 

“Khairy does not need to rush; he does not need to sulk; he needs to be magnanimous. Don’t forget, Dr Mahathir was once sacked from Umno, but he made a comeback and became the PM for two decades. 

“Although he is sacked, Khairy should not abandon the Umno struggle. If he does not join another party, he will be remembered as someone loyal to Umno. 

“In politics anything is possible. He could be recalled in a few days. So, he needs to be patient. 

“It would be a waste if he joins PAS or Bersatu. It does not suit someone like him. Pakatan Harapan (PH) is a better option, but I think he should just be careful in his undertakings.” 

A day after his dismissal, Khairy was offered a place in Gerakan. 

Acting Gerakan Youth chief Wong Chia Zhen said the former health minister would be a perfect fit for the multiracial party, which is a component member of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition. 

Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim (TMJ) also hinted that he would offer Khairy the posts of Johor Youth adviser and CEO of the Johor Darul Ta’zim Football Club.  

Meanwhile, Ilham Centre executive director Hisomuddin Bakar said there was no indication that PN and PH would suit Khairy. 

Hisomuddin said Khairy could not join PKR after Anwar Ibrahim said that Khairy’s admission would create conflict in the unity government. 

He added that DAP was also not suitable as Khairy had been a harsh critic of the party during his time as Umno Youth chief. 

Hisomuddin agreed that Khairy would be wasted in PN. 

“The time is also not right for him to start a new political party. It will be hard for him to survive given the current dynamics,” he said. 

“I do not see his path nor can I tell him where to go. His path is unclear. He could join TMJ but that means he needs to leave politics; maybe that’s his best option for now,” he added. 

Iman Research programme director Badrul Hisham Ismail questioned whether Khairy could gain grassroots support if he decided to join PH or PN. 

Badrul also wondered where Khairy would stand if he wished to take part in the Selangor elections. 

“It will be hypocritical of him to join PN or PH. He could have left Umno earlier, but he backed Najib (former prime minister Najib Razak) when the 1MDB scandal made headlines. I don’t see how Bersatu and PAS can be options for him,” he said. 

“The questions are, where will he find grassroots support and where will he stand?” 

Yesterday, Khairy told The Malaysian Insight that he would consider running in the 2023 Selangor state election after failing to win the Sungai Buloh parliamentary seat in the recent general election.

“There is a possibility, if I find the right fit with the right party,” Khairy told The Malaysian Insight. 

“I think my politics has migrated to Selangor.” 

Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu are expected to call for state elections by September. – February 1, 2023.