UMNO presidential candidate Khairy Jamaluddin said he is happy to debate his two main rivals, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“I’m okay with the suggestion. The details of where and when can be discussed,” Khairy said at a press conference at the party’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

The former youth and sports minister said he was also ready to declare his assets ahead of the party elections.

Tengku Razaleigh suggested yesterday that the candidates vying for the president’s post have an open debate, besides declaring their assets.

Khairy was speaking to the press for the first time after his surprise announcement on Sunday.

He said he had decided to withdraw his candidacy for vice-president to give Umno delegates “more choices” in this year’s elections.

“I want to give them options that represent different generations, ideas, world views,” said Khairy, pointing to his two older rivals Tengku Razaleigh, 81 and Zahid, 65.

Khairy, who is the Rembau MP, said there were no “camps” heading into the party elections on June 30.

He said his position is unusual as he is the Rembau deputy chief but was going for the presidency while the Rembau chief Mohd Hasan was contesting for the deputy president’s post.

“Before I decided to go for the president’s post, I contacted Mat Hassan and asked him to contest as president but he decided to stick to his decision.”

Khairy said he told Mat Hassan that the delegates needed a wider choice.

He also started to meet members since last night and will tour the country to convince them about his manifesto and vision for Umno.

“Umno needs to regain the trust of Malaysians. It must be seen as a party that can be a credible opposition and be a viable alternative to the current government. 

“This is my lifetime commitment to regain Malaysians’ trust. And it begins with these party elections of more than 100,000 delegates. I hope they will vote based on their conscience,” he added. – June 20, 2018.