Akmal’s style of politics still necessary in Umno, says Khairy

 The former Umno Youth chief says Dr Akmal Saleh is tolerated because of the ‘clear and present danger’ on the political right dominated by PN.

Khairy Jamaluddin (second from left) said Umno will see a ‘haemorrhaging of Malay support’ on the political right if Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh (second from right) does not address the danger presented by PN. (UMNO Online pic)

PETALING JAYA:

There is a place for the “old political script” that Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh follows, even as the party attempts to progress and offer a new approach to Malay voters, says former youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

Khairy speculated that Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi tolerates Akmal’s controversial politics because of the “clear and present danger on the (political) right, which is dominated by Perikatan Nasional”.

“The old script Akmal is reading from is politically necessary today. I think Akmal, and perhaps even the leadership, realises this, and tolerates what he does, because we don’t want to be outflanked on the right.

“I think if Akmal doesn’t at least try to straddle that space, then we will see a haemorrhaging of Malay support there,” he said on BFM’s The Breakfast Grille show.

Asked by host Sharaad Kuttan how Umno is managing as part of the unity government, saying that Akmal’s culture war politics and controversial style were not “making it easy” for the party’s partners, Khairy said that was why Akmal, and not Zahid, was playing that role.

“Akmal has the perfect job as Umno Youth chief, which has traditionally been the party’s ‘battering ram’.

“I didn’t play that traditional rabble-rousing role as Umno Youth chief. I had my moments, of course. But today, weaponising the culture war to try to gain support among the Malays … Akmal has to play that role,” he said.

Khairy said Zahid likely viewed Akmal as a “useful buffer” for that kind of politics, while positioning himself as the party’s statesman to rein in conflicting viewpoints.

“Akmal is manifesting the views of Malays who are uncomfortable about issues of identity. But at the end of the day, as party president, Zahid will rein in these issues, and we can talk about a coalition that rises above them,” he said.

Earlier, Khairy defended his decision to rejoin Umno, saying it was the natural home for his ideology and where he felt most comfortable as a politician.

Borrowing a term previously used by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, he likened Umno to a “big tent where people like me can exist together with Akmal”.

“We have slightly different politics as Umno Youth leaders, but we can coexist,” he said.

“I ultimately believe that once the dust is settled internally, you sort of settle on this very centrist Malay nationalist party, which is committed towards working together with MCA and MIC, and trying to find the right centre for Malaysia.

“It’s not a perfect formula for everyone, but it’s a formula that has worked. And I think that it’s a formula that’s still relevant, at least for the next few decades,” he said. - FMT