KUALA LUMPUR: Former Malaysian health minister Khairy Jamaluddin is free to join any political party now that he is no longer a member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), said party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Thursday (May 18).
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Malaysia’s deputy prime minister, said that Mr Khairy is now an independent after being expelled from UMNO in January.
“(It is) his right to go and do whatever he likes … He’s no longer an UMNO member,” he was quoted as saying by the Malay Mail.
Ahmad Zahid was asked by reporters to comment on Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) offering a seat in its supreme council to Mr Khairy.
When asked if he would make a counter-offer to Mr Khairy, Ahmad Zahid was quoted by the Malay Mail as saying: “I will not go into strategies. If I did that it would not be a good strategy.”
On Wednesday, Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin reportedly said during a press conference that a seat in the party’s supreme council is available “if he (Mr Khairy) wants it”, according to Free Malaysia Today (FMT).
Muhyiddin also noted that he has discussed the matter with other Bersatu leaders.
According to The Star, Muhyiddin said that Mr Khairy was offered to join the party’s supreme council as he has a lot of valuable experience.
“Everyone hopes (Mr Khairy) will join Perikatan,” Muhyiddin reportedly said, adding that Mr Khairy has not applied to join the party so far.
Source: CNA
