Dr M: Khairy best candidate for Umno presidency
ALOR STAR: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad regards Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin as the best candidate for the Umno presidency in the party’s election.
Dr Mahathir said Khairy was among those most qualified to strengthen the party after Barisan Nasional lost the Federal Government as well as several states in the 14th General Election (GE14).
“The contests for Umno’s top posts are open, and I find that the best candidate (for the presidency) is Khairy,” he said after chairing a Kedah Pakatan Harapan meeting yesterday.
Present were Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, state PKR chairman Dr Azman Ismail, state Parti Amanah Negara chairman Datuk Dr Ismail Salleh, and state DAP chairman Teoh Boon Kok.
The election will see all positions open to contest following the party’s loss in GE14.
On another development, Dr Mahathir, who is also Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia chairman, said the political turmoil in Perlis reflected Umno’s inability to determine the party’s basic struggle in the state.
He said he had “no authority” to interfere in the situation. “How can I interfere?
“My own party has no power in Perlis.
“But Umno, since its defeat, appears to be in chaos to the extent it can’t even determine the principles of its struggles.”
Dr Mahathir said although PH had wrested control of Kedah from Barisan Nasional, PH’s performance had been less than stellar.
“We plan to mobilise a movement to help the people understand PH’s struggle, apart from analysing voters in certain areas for us to understand how better to attract them.”