REMBAU MP Khairy Jamaluddin sparred with reporters this morning over where he might stand in the next general election, having been told to “get out of the way” by Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan, reportedly keen on occupying Khairy’s seat.

“Kota Kinabalu it is,” Khairy quipped while visiting the city this morning, when challenged by a reporter on whether he would move to either the Kuala Pilah or Tampin constituencies.

The health minister dropped a bombshell recently, claiming he had been told in no uncertain terms to “get out of the way” by Mohamad, keen to re-enter parliament after he lost his seat in 2018.

Last week, Khairy said that he may not stand at all if he is not given a constituency.

“I received a text from Mohamad to get out of the way,” he said at a press conference, adding that he would toe the party line.

“I haven’t received any instructions. I’d feel embarrassed to trespass into other areas.

“It’s OK, the worst-case scenario is that I won’t contest,” Khairy added.

The health minister has been the MP for Rembau since 2008.

Mohamad has made it clear that he wants to stand for parliament at the next election.

The former Negri Sembilan menteri besar, who has been the assemblyman for Rantau since 2004, has not publicly stated where he will contest.

Rantau is one of four state seats in the Rembau constituency. 

Kuala Pilah is currently held by Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) Eddin Syazlee Shith, who won in 2018 with a slim majority of a little more than 200 over Barisan Nasional’s (BN) Hasan Malek. 

Tampin is currently under Amanah’s Hasan Bahrom, who triumphed in 2018, beating BN’s Shaziman Abu Mansor by 1,002 votes.

Meanwhile, DAP’s Chan Foong Hin is the current MP for Kota Kinabalu, with a comfortable majority of 24,086. – September 10, 2022.