Rare to see gratitude or humility in Malaysian politics....

By Kalimullah Hassan

I am not surprised Khairy Jamaluddin was sacked by Umno.

Umno has become irrelevant anyway, and perhaps it’s better for Khairy - if he wants to remain in politics - to branch out on his own. After all, he’s only 47. Tun Mahathir Mohamad was sacked at 45 and came back as Prime Minister. Twice.

Anwar Ibrahim was sacked by Umno and Mahathir at 50 and came back as PM after 24 years.

Khairy? Who knows.

One thing is certain though - neither Zahid Hamidi or Tok Mat (Mohamad Hassan) are likely to make it as Prime Minister though they may have rid Umno of its “great white hope”.

Coincidentally, when Zahid was arrested and sidelined by Mahathir and Umno for being ANWAR’S supporter in 1998, it was Khairy’s father in law Abdullah Badawi (then the Deputy Prime Minister) who intervened with Mahathir and brought Zahid back into the fold. I know that because Pak Lah’s Press Secretary Kamarulzaman Zainal and I helped Zahid prepare his “comeback” press statement.

Tok Mat was CEO of Cycle and Carriage and was picked by Pak Lah (then Prime Minister of Malaysia) to be Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar in 2004.

And now both of them sacked his son-in-law? Obviously KJ must have done something unforgivable - like criticize Zahid and Tok Mat?

In that sense, I am glad Pak Lah has dementia and cannot see all this happening.

Anyway, as I said, what’s there to be surprised. about? It’s very rare to see gratitude or humility or a real democrat in Malaysian politics.

Good luck Khairy Jamaluddin.