KJ tells why he is just an 'Encik'

KUALA LUMPUR: He is a full minister, the leader of Umno Youth, a colonel who commands a regiment, and an 'Encik'. 

Many have achieved far less, yet carry longer honorifics to their name. 

Youth and Sports Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin says at 40 years old, he did not feel that he had achieved enough to receive an honorific title. 

“The Datukship, for me is something really special and the recipient has to be really worthy of it. 

“I don’t think what I have done so far is worthy enough for a Datukship,” said Khairy to a local daily, Harian Metro. 

He also pointed out that as a youth leader, it will be awkward for him to have an honorific title, as he had been a minister for just three years. 

Khairy added, “There is an emergence of a culture where people are blindly chasing titles without accomplishing anything. 

“That is not the kind of value we want to impart to the next generation.” 

He said he would rather work for the public without any title, at least as along he is in the public service. 

The popular federal minister also explained why he no longer dominated the news and television screen like he used to. 

His stepping back from the spotlights, he said, was deliberate, to promote and encourage the next generation of youth leaders from UMNO to step up, given how this is his second and last term in UMNO Youth. 

Khairy admits to being a dominant name in UMNO Youth, so much so that most members of the public can’t name another leader from the youth faction, he said in the interview. 

“I have to give an opportunity to the second liners, not when I leave UMNO Youth, but now. 

“If not, I will not be able to prepare a successor when I leave. There’s only two years left before the next UMNO election. 

“Therefore, I have deliberately taken a step back with UMNO Youth activities,” said Khairy. 

However, Khairy assured that taking a step back does not mean he does not take his Youth Chief role seriously nor want to lead. 

“I don’t want cast a shadow on the emergence of other leaders,” said Khairy.