I thought Umno the Persian Cat wouldn't last among strays: KJ

Former Umno Youth leader Khairy Jamaluddin has admitted that he didn't expect his party to bounce back after being voted out of power last year.

Speaking at a forum organised by Sinar Harian in Shah Alam today, Khairy said he had then likened his party to a "Persian cat" which would not last long among in a company of strays.

"I've described Umno as a Persian cat which now has to compete with the strays. I didn't think the Persian cat would last long.

"However, Umno has proven that it can rough it out and compete. There were predictions that Umno would lose its members to other parties.

"That never became a reality," he said.

Asked if he was leaving Umno, the Rembau lawmaker said: "Not for now."

However, he said, he might change his mind if Umno did not stick to its original objectives.

Umno has been struck by a leadership crisis marked by a string of defections involving its lawmakers following the last general election.

Under the helm of Mohamad Hasan, the party now appears to have stabilised and is working on greater collaboration with PAS.

Umno has also won three by-elections in a row since Mohamad took over.  - Mkini