IN recent days Umno’s Khairy Jamaluddin (KJ) seems pretty vocal in airing his frustration against his own party.

Obviously this is expected since he is up against a stronger Pakatan Harapan team in Sungai Buloh.

But can we, the people, believe that he can truly reform his own party that much and so soon?

He has been an Umno leader for many years and has been part of all that negativity festering in the party.

There was complacency in almost all of Umno’s top echelon, so much that the nation was embroiled in the horror of the 1MDB scandal that made history.

Where was the voice of KJ then? Why was he not vocal enough then?

While he was in his comfort zone, an MP in his own backyard and holding different ministerial positions, the people never heard about him wanting to “cleanse” the party.

Even until recently while having been the health minister under Ismail Sabri Yaakob, he never brought up the issue.

Now that he is in an unfamiliar constituency and out of his comfort zone, suddenly he is wide awake and sounding extremely concerned about the health of Umno. 

Come on. The public is not so foolish and gullible to believe that he and his few friends in Umno can transform the party’s ideology and philosophy in an instant.

He will face extreme resistance from hardcore Umno members who have all along believed that they are the real victims of circumstances and not that the party itself has any fault.

KJ sounds desperate and he resonates concern for the high probability of his losing in Sungai Buloh.

Drumming his wishes to be the prime minister and trumpeting his apparent success in handling the Covid-19 pandemic sound very superficial. 

It echoes more of a desperate attempt in trying to convince Sungai Buloh voters that he be seen as a possible beacon of hope for the country.

It is a wonder indeed if he is trying to save Umno or his own political career. 

Remember, a vote for KJ is a vote for Umno/BN. Period. – November 15, 2022.

* Narinder Pal Singh is Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Warisan communications chief.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.