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OF late, Khairy Jamaluddin has been saying all the right things. The Umno Youth chief made a progressive maiden speech at the wing's 2009 general assembly, and has written on the need for a transformed Malay Malaysian mindset.
But while Khairy is building up support from outside Umno, some party Youth leaders are cautious about his progress and methods. Khairy's stand on meritocracy and inclusiveness may be the right message for Malaysia today, but is his movement listening to him?
Khairy delivering his speech during the Umno general assembly in October 2009Rock and hard place
"University students and young professionals I've talked to connect with what he says, even though they've read unfavourable things about him in the past as son-in-law of the previous prime minister," Jerai Youth division vice-chief, Ahmad Ikmal Ismail, says in an interview.
Indeed, Khairy, or KJ, the Rembau Member of Parliament, appears to be the lone voice in Umno calling for reason in racial and religious flashpoints such as over the "Allah" issue and Al-Islam's undercover coverage of a Catholic mass.
On civil liberties, he supports repealing the Printing Presses and Publications Act, and criticised the government's censorship of the Malaysia Today website. The Oxford-educated son of a diplomat seems to believe that inclusiveness is the reform Umno needs to stay relevant.
Yet, it was also the same Khairy who called for Perak's embattled Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin's banishment for treason after the Barisan Nasional's coup of the state government. Undoubtedly, Khairy has a delicate balancing act between his party's pro-Malay agenda and the new aspirations of many more Malaysians.
Apart from the party's pro-Malay agenda, the 34-year-old politician has also had to battle past perceptions of nepotism and interference in government. He allegedly bribed his way to winning the Youth chief post in a three-way fight during the March 2009 party elections.
But Khairy tells The Nut Graph in a 7 Jan 2010 e-mail interview that these criticisms come from "right-wing elements" in the party, especially from bloggers "who supported another candidate during the Pemuda Umno leadership contest."
Political education
Ibrahim SuffianStill, a Merdeka Center for Opinion Research poll in November 2009 on 358 Umno delegates found that only 38% of delegates below age 30 supported Khairy's call to ditch the "siege mentality".
Merdeka Center director Ibrahim Suffian thinks the results suggest that Umno's young are not getting enough political education to temper their idealism about Malay supremacy.
"Youths don't have the kind of political education that teaches them about the country and the world. They get one version and it's not counterbalanced," Ibrahim says in a phone interview.
But the paradigm shift Khairy is calling for may be too grand a statement for youth members at the grassroots, says Petaling Jaya Utara Umno Youth chief Latt Sharizan Abdullah.
Latt Sharizan says Khairy must translate his vision into an easily understandable, doable working plan.
"We know KJ is smart, a good orator, with good ideas. But we are waiting for a clear plan of delivery. Mindset change is a long-term goal, we want to know what happens now," says Latt Sharizan.
Jamawi (Courtesy of Jamawi
Jaafar)Additionally, Khairy's message may sell better in some places than others, notes Youth executive council member Jamawi Jaafar, who is from Sabah.
Jamawi explains that Umno in Sabah can't afford to be locked in the straightjacket of "Malay supremacy" because party membership includes those of other faiths as long as they are bumiputera. Hence, Khairy's message may be more well accepted in Sabah than in the peninsula.
Will Khairy last?
How will Khairy forward his "agenda for change"? An Umno Youth retreat for the movement's 191 division leaders was held in 2009 with a syllabus that promoted inclusivity and dialogue over ethnocentrism. But only half the intended participants attended, something Khairy dismisses as a problem of commitment rather than a gauge of support for him.
Latt Sharizan Latt Sharizan feels it's time for Khairy to employ more personal time with the grassroots than speak from a podium at functions. "If he were to ask us what we want, we want him to spend more time mixing with us so that he can pass his message down in person. He could be doing more rounds to all the divisions since he doesn't have a cabinet post."
The traditional view in Umno politics is that the lack of a minister's post is a handicap to a politician's party standing. Jamawi says it's true to some extent in that Khairy's work as Youth chief isn't taken seriously by the media without a ministerial platform.
"So he has to work harder to be more present among the grassroots and to be more vocal," says Jamawi.
Khairy may be displaying the kind of measured reason people wish more Umno leaders had, but such messages could be lost if he fails to get Youth members to identify with him. He is still perceived as aloof by some, and lacking in the interpersonal touch that Malay politics at the rural grassroots appreciates.
But is he also ahead of his time in Umno? Amid the degenerating state of affairs in Malaysia over the "Allah" controversy and attacks on churches, can Khairy keep up a moderate stance, or will he succumb to communalism when the crunch comes?
Khairy walks a fine line in Umno with his politics, caught between two worldviews. Where does his future lie? Will he go down "fighting for something [he] believes in", or will he be able to transform Umno from within?
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Comments are now closed for this article as per our policyBut while Khairy is building up support from outside Umno, some party Youth leaders are cautious about his progress and methods. Khairy's stand on meritocracy and inclusiveness may be the right message for Malaysia today, but is his movement listening to him?
Khairy delivering his speech during the Umno general assembly in October 2009
"University students and young professionals I've talked to connect with what he says, even though they've read unfavourable things about him in the past as son-in-law of the previous prime minister," Jerai Youth division vice-chief, Ahmad Ikmal Ismail, says in an interview.
Indeed, Khairy, or KJ, the Rembau Member of Parliament, appears to be the lone voice in Umno calling for reason in racial and religious flashpoints such as over the "Allah" issue and Al-Islam's undercover coverage of a Catholic mass.
On civil liberties, he supports repealing the Printing Presses and Publications Act, and criticised the government's censorship of the Malaysia Today website. The Oxford-educated son of a diplomat seems to believe that inclusiveness is the reform Umno needs to stay relevant.
Yet, it was also the same Khairy who called for Perak's embattled Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin's banishment for treason after the Barisan Nasional's coup of the state government. Undoubtedly, Khairy has a delicate balancing act between his party's pro-Malay agenda and the new aspirations of many more Malaysians.
Apart from the party's pro-Malay agenda, the 34-year-old politician has also had to battle past perceptions of nepotism and interference in government. He allegedly bribed his way to winning the Youth chief post in a three-way fight during the March 2009 party elections.
But Khairy tells The Nut Graph in a 7 Jan 2010 e-mail interview that these criticisms come from "right-wing elements" in the party, especially from bloggers "who supported another candidate during the Pemuda Umno leadership contest."
Political education
Ibrahim SuffianStill, a Merdeka Center for Opinion Research poll in November 2009 on 358 Umno delegates found that only 38% of delegates below age 30 supported Khairy's call to ditch the "siege mentality".
Merdeka Center director Ibrahim Suffian thinks the results suggest that Umno's young are not getting enough political education to temper their idealism about Malay supremacy.
"Youths don't have the kind of political education that teaches them about the country and the world. They get one version and it's not counterbalanced," Ibrahim says in a phone interview.
But the paradigm shift Khairy is calling for may be too grand a statement for youth members at the grassroots, says Petaling Jaya Utara Umno Youth chief Latt Sharizan Abdullah.
Latt Sharizan says Khairy must translate his vision into an easily understandable, doable working plan.
"We know KJ is smart, a good orator, with good ideas. But we are waiting for a clear plan of delivery. Mindset change is a long-term goal, we want to know what happens now," says Latt Sharizan.
Jamawi (Courtesy of Jamawi
Jaafar)Additionally, Khairy's message may sell better in some places than others, notes Youth executive council member Jamawi Jaafar, who is from Sabah.
Jamawi explains that Umno in Sabah can't afford to be locked in the straightjacket of "Malay supremacy" because party membership includes those of other faiths as long as they are bumiputera. Hence, Khairy's message may be more well accepted in Sabah than in the peninsula.
Will Khairy last?
How will Khairy forward his "agenda for change"? An Umno Youth retreat for the movement's 191 division leaders was held in 2009 with a syllabus that promoted inclusivity and dialogue over ethnocentrism. But only half the intended participants attended, something Khairy dismisses as a problem of commitment rather than a gauge of support for him.
Latt Sharizan Latt Sharizan feels it's time for Khairy to employ more personal time with the grassroots than speak from a podium at functions. "If he were to ask us what we want, we want him to spend more time mixing with us so that he can pass his message down in person. He could be doing more rounds to all the divisions since he doesn't have a cabinet post."
The traditional view in Umno politics is that the lack of a minister's post is a handicap to a politician's party standing. Jamawi says it's true to some extent in that Khairy's work as Youth chief isn't taken seriously by the media without a ministerial platform.
"So he has to work harder to be more present among the grassroots and to be more vocal," says Jamawi.
Khairy may be displaying the kind of measured reason people wish more Umno leaders had, but such messages could be lost if he fails to get Youth members to identify with him. He is still perceived as aloof by some, and lacking in the interpersonal touch that Malay politics at the rural grassroots appreciates.
But is he also ahead of his time in Umno? Amid the degenerating state of affairs in Malaysia over the "Allah" controversy and attacks on churches, can Khairy keep up a moderate stance, or will he succumb to communalism when the crunch comes?
Khairy walks a fine line in Umno with his politics, caught between two worldviews. Where does his future lie? Will he go down "fighting for something [he] believes in", or will he be able to transform Umno from within?
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Please take our five-minute reader survey
Johari Junus Posted: 27 Jan 10 : 1.55PM
That's the way to go, KJ. Latt and Latt-alikes, give him the support and space for this struggle.
Kim Wei Posted: 27 Jan 10 : 1.55PM
I wish you all the best YB!
Pemuda PSU Posted: 27 Jan 10 : 1.57PM
Alahai Latt, KJ sedang membina satu manhaj baru bagi Pemuda Umno. Dia selalu turun padang apa... jumpa KP, NKP dan ahli-ahli Pemuda Umno. KJ tak ada janggal dan jauh dari grassroot members.
Kate Green, Zombie Shooter Posted: 27 Jan 10 : 2.05PM
He only pasang his Twitter after the big Umno Youth drama.
kirim Posted: 27 Jan 10 : 5.05PM
The comment by this guy by the name of Latt is pretty pathetic! Spend time with the grassroots? Is that what Umno leaders are all about? Shouldn't they be doing something productive, rather than just sit around in kedai kopi talking nonsense? Manalah BN nak menang election ni...
Jon Posted: 27 Jan 10 : 5.06PM
You're in the wrong political party my friend.
JasmineFlower Posted: 28 Jan 10 : 12.43AM
He's been saying the right things, hes been DOING the right things too. I say screw Umno Youth's rank and file. If they're too slow to go along with the pace of change, then I'll support Khairy for what he believes and stands for. Period. Umno as a political animal doesn't seem to want to change, so why lose a few good [politicians]?
HockIB Posted: 28 Jan 10 : 1.23AM
Latt Sharizan seems like an idiot to me. He wants Khairy to come down and pass the message down directly to the 700,000 Umno Youth members?? Err... I am a proud card-carrying DAP member, and I have no problems understanding what Khairy is trying to say. Are Latt Sharizan and his followers so dense? Welcome to the 21st century. There are things called blogs, videos, Youtube, which chronicle thoughts and visions of all major Malaysian politicians.
If each and every one of them has to "spend more time with (party) members" instead of with the rakyat, gosh, then we'd be properly unrepresented!
Anwar didn't gain so much support because he met with members. He rarely meets with members, but we connect with him through his message. Too bad Khairy leads an organisation like Umno Youth, who think they're owed an explanation over and above what is already so clearly stated in his speeches, blog posts etc.
fReUd Posted: 28 Jan 10 : 1.25AM
Latt Sharizan,
A clear plan of delivery? Er. First, get out of your coccoon lah! How to deliver if you cant even understand his message which the rest of the country already knows about??
Ayoooo...
dookie Posted: 28 Jan 10 : 2.47PM
Can't believe I'm saying this but KJ is more than just talk. The joint statement he came up with, the visits to the church, the criticism against the cow-head protesters, etc...
I think this is for real. And if so, I will support him as an individual, if not the party he represents.
Anonymous Coward Posted: 28 Jan 10 : 11.46PM
I'll take a wait and see approach. I remember seeing him on 101 East about the BERSIH rally that happened two years ago and he tried to spin it as unnecessary, that the EC has already taken measures like indelible ink (bought, never used) to make our elections more transparent. He also said that the rally wasn't a correct way to gauge the Malaysian political psyche and it wasn't accurate.
I have my reservations with the guy but I do agree with the Kepimpinan Melayu proposal and for us Malays to stop thinking that we're under siege. These are the right words but I do not know of any actions that he has taken to make that a real and attainable goal. He can speak well, that's for sure but politicians have silver tongues and I'm simply not ready to accept him as someone who can lead us out of this rut.
Good luck though, for what it's worth.
Azizi Khan Posted: 29 Jan 10 : 6.37AM
Personally watching KJ over the years, he always comes off as a sleazy chameleon. He keeps changing around what he says and plays in tune of the crowd. I'm sure he'll go far and become a top Umno politician, and maybe even the prime minister. Whether he'd be any better than those we have at the moment remains to be seen...
sang kancil Posted: 2 Feb 10 : 3.03AM
Unfortunately, KJ will be buried by the ultra-kiasu.
