Quit Cabinet, don’t just talk, Rafizi tells Khairy

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin today called on the government to stop raising prices of public transport and tolls at the Umno general assembly. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Afif Abd Halim, December 9, 2015.

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin should resign from his post as the youth and sports minister as a sign of protest against the price hikes sanctioned by Putrajaya, says PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli.

The Pandan MP said instead of trying to gain sympathy at the Umno general assembly, Khairy should demonstrate his protest by relinquishing his cabinet post.

“His speech today is an open confession that he failed to raise the concern of youth, who are burdened by the rising cost of living and his views in Cabinet were ignored under the leadership of Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

“If he really wanted to defend the people, he should resign immediately... that would jolt Najib from his position and hasten his stepping down as the prime minister,” Rafizi said in a statement today.

Khairy, at the opening of the Umno Youth assembly today, implored Putrajaya to prevent further price hikes, as Malaysians had reached their breaking point from the burden of rising cost of living.

Rafizi said Khairy’s stand on national issues, such as the implementation of the goods and services tax (GST), Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and 1Malaysia Development Corporation (1MDB) showed the latter was a government “apologist”.

“In Parliament, not once did he voice out against the GST, although it is common knowledge that the consumption tax was the cause of the sudden sharp increase in prices of goods lately.

“He should also have been more morally supportive of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Shafiee Apdal who have asked about the 1MDB scandal as well as RM2.6billion deposited into the prime minister’s account.”

Rafizi, however, expressed doubt that Khairy would have the courage to relinquish his post and instead challenged the Rembau MP to follow through with a previous suggestion to debate PKR Youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad on issues plaguing the people as well as youth.

- TMI