Khairy Jamaluddin may rejoin Umno before Sabah polls with Zahid’s blessing. Kepala Batas seat eyed.
PETALING JAYA: Khairy Jamaluddin, the former health minister expelled from Umno less than two years ago, appears set to make a dramatic return to the party ahead of the Sabah state election scheduled for November 29, according to a report by Berita Harian.
The potential comeback marks a significant shift in the political landscape, with party leadership reportedly signaling their approval for the former Rembau parliamentarian to rejoin the fold.
Sources cited by the Malay daily revealed that Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister, has given his personal endorsement for Khairy’s return to the party.
The pivotal conversation allegedly took place during a wedding reception for the daughter of Datuk Rozabil Abdul Rahman, who heads Umno’s Perlis liaison committee. The event, held last Sunday, provided the setting for Zahid to directly communicate with Khairy about submitting his membership application.
“Zahid personally instructed Khairy to submit his membership form to rejoin Umno,” an unnamed source told the publication, though the party has not yet received any formal application from the former minister.
According to the report, Khairy’s anticipated return is strategically timed to coincide with Umno and Barisan Nasional’s campaign efforts in Sabah. Party insiders suggest his involvement would be particularly valuable given his age and political standing relative to several candidates being considered for the state election.
“Khairy is expected to assist in Umno and BN‘s campaign in the upcoming Sabah state election. This is because some of the candidates the party plans to field are around his age and his political peers,” the source explained.
Beyond his immediate role in Sabah, speculation surrounds Khairy’s potential candidacy in the next general election. The former minister is reportedly being positioned to contest Kepala Batas, a parliamentary constituency with deep personal significance.
The seat was previously represented by Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the former prime minister and Khairy’s late father-in-law, adding a familial and political legacy dimension to the proposed candidacy.
Khairy’s expulsion on January 27, 2023, represented one of the most dramatic moments in recent Umno history. Political observers widely interpreted the move as part of a broader consolidation effort by Zahid to neutralise potential rivals within the party hierarchy.
The dismissal came alongside that of Tan Sri Noh Omar, the former supreme council member and ex-Tanjong Karang MP, who had requested release from the party following a six-year suspension.
Umno’s secretary-general, Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, announced both expulsions were due to breaches of party discipline during the 15th general election, though specific infractions were never publicly detailed.
Before his ouster, Khairy had been regarded as a potential presidential candidate and maintained a reputation as an outspoken critic of certain party practices. He had previously indicated interest in challenging Zahid for party leadership.
Following his expulsion, Khairy maintained his stance, defending his critiques of Umno while declaring he would neither appeal the decision nor join competing political organizations, emphasising his enduring loyalty to the party.
Several other prominent figures faced consequences during the same period, including six-year suspensions for Sembrong MP Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and former Umno Youth deputy chief Shahril Hamdan Suffian, who was closely aligned with Khairy.
During the 15th general election, Khairy contested Sungai Buloh after being relocated from his traditional Rembau stronghold to accommodate Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan. The shift proved consequential.
In a highly competitive seven-way race, Khairy lost to R Ramanan, the former MIC treasurer-general who had recently joined Pakatan Harapan and risen quickly to deputy information chief. Ramanan secured 50,943 votes, defeating Khairy by a margin of 2,693 votes.
Throughout his ministerial career, Khairy held several key portfolios including youth and sports minister and science, technology and innovation minister. His tenure as health minister during the Covid-19 pandemic saw him take a leading role in vaccine procurement and the development of the MySejahtera contact tracing application.
Since departing Parliament, Khairy has maintained a prominent public profile through multiple platforms. He co-hosts “Keluar Sekejap,” a widely popular political podcast with Shahril Hamdan Suffian, and serves as a radio presenter on Hot FM.
Additionally, he has secured brand ambassador roles with several major corporations, demonstrating his continued influence and public appeal.
The potential reconciliation between Khairy and Umno’s current leadership would represent a significant political realignment, potentially reshaping dynamics within the party as it prepares for both the Sabah state election and future national contests.
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