Can KJ, Hisham's return whitewash Umno, asks Ibrahim Ali

 

Putra president Ibrahim Ali has expressed scepticism over the hype behind Khairy Jamaluddin and Hishammuddin Hussein's potential return to Umno, which some believed could help restore voters' trust in the party.

The former Umno leader, in a statement today, questioned whether the duo's return would be enough to repair Umno's "damaged reputation".

"My first question is, did the public confidence in Umno collapse because of a lack of capable leaders, or because of the integrity crisis affecting the party’s own leadership?

"Secondly, will the public forget that Umno today is led by a president associated with 47 prima facie charges, even though he received an NFA (no further action)? The NFA was granted by the attorney-general, not by the people or the voters,” Ibrahim (above, right) said.

Pointing out that “the people are not blind,” he said the prevailing public mindset is that Umno is a kleptocratic party following the 1MDB scandal, and many of its leaders are perceived as lacking integrity.

"Third question: Can the entry of these two figures into Umno erase the public perception that the party is struggling with a crisis of credibility and various issues?" he further asked.

Hishammuddin Hussein

Malaysiakini has contacted Umno, Khairy and Hishammuddin for their response to the former Pasir Mas MP's comments.

Ibrahim's statement came amid speculations that Umno might lift its suspension on Hishammuddin, who is its former vice-president, and accept Khairy back after his sacking in 2023.

Political ties

Ibrahim also took a swipe at Khairy, popularly known as KJ, whom he said had risen in politics only because of the former Umno Youth chief's family connection with former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"Is KJ so great? (This is) the 'fourth floor' KJ. The rakyat and I would never forget this. I am a Malay who never forgets.

"If not because he was the son-in-law of the then prime minister, perhaps he could not even win a branch chief position," Ibrahim said.

He was referring to the term "fourth-floor boys", which referred to a team of advisers to Abdullah when he was the prime minister.

Khairy spearheaded the team accused of controlling the Prime Minister's Office.

"Will the public see the return of several figures as a genuine change, or merely political cosmetics ahead of the election - something that will become a laughing stock?

"Does Umno truly want to reform the party, or is it merely trying to revive an old image that has already been damaged in the eyes of the public?

"And if Umno's own leadership does not change, how can the people possibly believe that the party itself has changed?" Ibrahim asked. - Mkini