KHAIRY Jamaluddin said he will not appeal against his sacking from Umno last Friday.

“There is no point in appealing. I was unilaterally dismissed from the party,” he said in a radio interview with BFM this morning.

He was sacked after being a member for 23 years for allegedly working against the party’s interest. 

He had been a fervent critic of party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on various issues.

Despite his sacking, Khairy said he still considers Zahid as a friend.

The former Rembau MP disclosed that he has no issues with Zahid despite openly criticising the Bagan Datuk MP on a number of occasions during the general election.

“I have nothing against Zahid and I still consider him a friend but I do not know if he still considers me one.

“I only wanted a contest. Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was pressured to step down in 2008, Najib Razak was asked to resign in 2018, if you (Zahid) does not want to step down, at least open the contest (for top post),” said Khairy.

Khairy, at the recent Umno general assembly, had demanded contests for the party’s top two posts.

However, Khairy’s open call was shot down by the party, citing unity and to prevent more friction.

Khairy this morning also accused Umno of practising double standards by not removing former prime minister Najib from Umno despite being convicted for graft.

“If you are charged in court and found guilty, you have to vacate your position but this does not adhere to Najib. He is still the Pekan division head. This is a double standards,” he said.

Najib’s role and duties as Pekan division chief are currently being undertaken by division deputy chief Zambry Ramly.

Najib is currently serving a 12-year jail term at the Kajang prison for graft.

On Friday night, Umno sacked Kahiry and Noh Omar, both veteran leaders, for allegedly working against the interests of the party.   

At the same time, Sembrong MP Hishammuddin Hussein and incumbent deputy Umno Youth chief Shahril Hamdan were suspended for six years.   

Besides Khairy and Noh, 42 other party members were also expelled – nine from the Putrajaya division, five from the Pasir Gudang division, two from the Tanjung Karang division, and 26 from Pahang. – January 30, 2023.