KHAIRY Jamaluddin’s latest outburst accusing Pakatan Harapan of being power-crazy is completely misdirected and ludicrous. It inadvertently boomerangs back to his immediate boss.

Accusing Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Anwar Ibrahim of betraying Umno for the sake of acquiring power for themselves, blatantly undermines the historical record.

The legendary duo now both helm the opposition coalition leading the charge against Najib’s Umno-BN in the next general election.

Truth be told, Anwar left (or rather, was sacked) when mounting a challenge to Dr Mahathir’s alleged “sins of omissions and commissions”, which gave birth to the phenomenal Reformasi. It was never about betraying the party per se, but about correcting the wrongs.

Now Dr Mahathir, with Muhyuddin Yassin and others, in the same stride,  left or were sacked from Umno to stage the final assault on Najib’s kleptocratic government that has ostensibly “plundered” the nation’s wealth viz 1MDB, SRC, TH, FGV, MARA etc. Again, it is not them who are betraying the party but the party, and more importantly the nation, which have been betrayed!

Hence, the accusation that the opposition coalition is power-hungry or power-crazy is a hollow one which also stinks to high heaven. It flies in the face of Najib’s frantic efforts to save his skin as the accused MO1, complicit in his confidante, Jho Low’s “heist of the century”. Billion of ringgit have been embezzled from the unfortunate 1MDB and laundered across the globe!

Doubtless, in his desperate attempts to escape any possible legal action, Najib has ostensibly usurped all powers of the critical institutions to check and balance him and his executive branch of the government.

Stifled and almost “castrated”, the judiciary (Attorney General), Parliament (Speaker and the PAC) and the various enforcement agencies Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, Bank Negara Malaysia, Securities Commission, the police and Suhakam can no longer act to ensure justice is meted out.

Khairy’s antics are hence understandable. Blamed for not appearing to be defending his boss, he is clearly frantic to show otherwise.

But that doesn’t warrant him shooting from the hip and reducing himself to the level of his wannabe successor Jamal Yunus. 

If Khairy truly loves his party is and does not wish to betray it, he must take on Najib now. That will make him a brilliant statesman and a genuine patriot. That would perhaps be acting in the true spirit of Umno and and upholding to the letter its raison d’etre.  

So, what is your response when your party is betrayed, KJ, leader of Umno Youth?

* Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad is Amanah strategic director.

* 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.