Will the real KJ please stand up?
Tuesday, November 1, 2005 at 23:38 Everybody knows the name Khairy Jamaluddin—the country’s most powerful 29-year-old. Yet how many people know who the real KJ is? It’s hard to figure him out because he’s such a contradiction.
He’s said to despise nepotism. Yet, at last year’s UMNO annual powwow, he gladly accepted the Deputy Youth post uncontested. Lest anyone thinks that this reflected the wishes of the delegates, remember all the booing when he was introduced to the crowd?
He’s said to abhor cronyism, yet when he quit his job at the PM’s Department last year, the first job he aimed for was that of COO of Khazanah Nasional. That gig fell through after the Wall Street Journal ran a story on it, sparking a public outcry.
So, what did he do next? Join an international financial house like Merrill Lynch to prove his mettle? No, he became a director at ECM Libra, a financial services company partly-owned by Kallimullah Hassan, editor-in-chief of the New Straits Times and a close ally of Pak Lah.
He’s said to be a brilliant spin doctor who played a key role in managing Pak Lah’s general election campaign in 2004. Yet, he so oversold Pak Lah’s anti-corruption stance that anything but a wholesale rolling of heads after the polls would not have satisfied a public expecting nothing less. Until now, people are wondering when the anti-corruption drive is going to start.
He’s said to champion meritocracy. “… he believes the ‘subsidy mentality’ that has plagued the Malay mindset is a bane, especially in an age of globalisation,” wrote Phar Kim Beng in an NST article last year. Phar knows Khairy from his days as a student in the UK.
Yet, at this year’s UMNO meet—even as Pak Lah was warning that the government cannot continue to be Santa Claus—Khairy was calling for a revival of the New Economic Policy with its 30% equity quota for Malays.
He’s said to decry blind loyalty. At one stage, his e-mail domain was Hang Jebat, according to Phar. Yet, that didn’t stop him from echoing his keris-waving boss, Hishammuddin Hussein, in calling for a revival of the NEP, as well as pledging his unwavering support for Hisham’s leadership.
He’s said to value a critical press. He even worked briefly as a journalist for The Economist, well known for its critical commentaries. During the height of the Asian economic crisis, he co-hosted a TV talk show called Dateline Malaysia where he grilled his guests with tough questions.
Yet, today, Khairy avoids the press like the plague, with his standard reply, “I don’t do interviews.” (True to his word, he declined to be interviewed for this column.) So, I did the next best thing and spoke to people who know him well.
All of them say the reason for his rhetoric these days is that he feels he has to live up to UMNO Youth’s reputation of being outspoken, provocative rebels.
Well, he spoke a little too fast in September when he challenged opposition leader Lim Kit Siang to debate a particular issue in Parliament. Lim, who has been an MP longer than Khairy’s been alive, admonished the young upstart for challenging someone to a Parliamentary debate when he wasn’t an MP himself.
Khairy then said that all he wanted was for Lim to raise the issue in Parliament so that MPs can debate it. Even so, it was Khairy who ended up with egg on his face as Lim’s rebuke was what most people noticed, especially when he told Khairy not to be a “political ultra.”
Perhaps Khairy feels he’s on the right track in emulating a young Tun Mahathir with his ultra-like rhetoric. Too bad someone forgot to tell him that it’s no longer the Sixties.
His supporters will tell you this is all just for show and that once he’s in power, the real Khairy will emerge to change UMNO from within.
Why do I get a sense of déjà vu when I hear this? Maybe because this is what Anwar Ibrahim had supposedly tried to do—but failed spectacularly.
I remember as a young college student watching a US vice-presidential debate between Lloyd Bentsen and Dan Quayle where the relatively youthful Quayle compared himself to a young Jack Kennedy. At that point, the elderly Bentsen delivered the now-immortal line: “Senator, you’re no Jack Kennedy.”
When I look at Khairy, I see a young man in a hurry who’s convinced he’s the best leader this country’s yet to have. I’m sorry to have to tell you this, Khairy, but you’re no Tun Mahathir. Heck, you’re not even an Anwar.
Reader Comments (23)
And I thought some of the "failings" weren't his exactly his fault. e.g., the "anti-corruption" drive tapering off. He's not a superman after all (despite almost being billed as such!)
The part that I do agree fully, is from your previous post on KJ - "So, he's playing it safe and taking the well-worn path of UMNO Youth leaders of the past by playing the ultra-card. How so incredibly disappointing."
I thought the above quote should be incorporated into your article.
Tony
Read this KJ article on Chrome mag. I think the article was good in how it highlighted the inconsistencies and contradictions in KJ's stand. Was enlightening for me.
I also see that you've taken the 100% for/against stand in commentary writing, that you advised me before, right?
A fiery article for an entertaining read.
adriene
Be it anyone malay , indian or chinese or other race , could you guys concentrate of the people issues. Most of you are there simply becoz someone vote for you.
Funny , there is something that I dont like when I see that guy in tv. Something is not right and I dont have a clue what it is....
What bullshit is this? Read what he said recently:
Khairy Jamaluddin urged Kelantanese in Pengkalan Pasir to vote for Barisan Nasional on the ground that it would be difficult for UMNO and the Federal Government to implement and ensure a complete success for what he termed the "Malay Agenda" if Kelantan is lagged behind. The UMNO Agenda to ensure a large stake in the national economy for Malays cannot be achieved if Kelantan continued to be under PAS rule.
Below is what he said at the recent UMNO Youth General Assembly:
"Umno Youth was calling for a return of the NEP and this was no longer a hidden agenda or something only in spirit and soul. This should be the basis for the country's economic planning in the coming Ninth Malaysia Plan with no shame or excuses. “No need to hide. This is the Malay agenda. We want 30% equity for the bumiputras so that they will be on par with the other races.”
Did you say that Khairy champions meritocracy, ... that he believes the ‘subsidy mentality’ that has plagued the Malay mindset is a bane?
It doesn't geese? or m I moronic?
dr.m wannabe:
doctor of all
MESS"!
500 million mat?!
now u know
why pals join
that party" for
it is up to U,
as long as u are not asking people to
cheap/ donate the share to u.
Go global market and EARN, honestly
even ZILLION that u want
like BILL Gates! dude.
Politics is not for the meek nor for the navel-gazing spectator.
Go for it KJ! And get your folks to respond to Oon Yeoh.
The system gives education with an intent to propogate Malayness and not considering other culture, race and religion. Nor wonder the races are sceptical of government efforts....
a good example was the story of our newly dead terrorist.Brought up form a relatively poor background, but because of potentially cleverer educated through the best schools at the time and uni and the result was....to abhor other races.Why...does he think by doing this will make the world more "cleaner"
What a waste of time, money, etc. I am worried for our future generation!!!
whatever happens, things are going fine now and i think we should support the abdullah era to fight corruption and all the things that he have done.
i feel that the words that appears here soley his own opinion but i am sure all of us that are smart know that we shall not believe in this kind of words.
who is oon yeoh? i have doubt in you
If you are trying to say Khairy is "the best of the future", then offer some proof and analysis. Like Mr. Oon Yeoh has done here (and a good job as well).
"i have doubt in you". Yeah, I have doubt in you too. Learn some English.
this just show your character.
why do you have to tell him to learn english btw?
I am merely hope for a better Malaysia, led by good leaders who are capable of upholding the peace and harmony amongst us.....
"M agenda" is mean to enrich
the "Selective Group of those powers,
in the HIJACKED-name of eradicating certain" group poverty,
as we can see, shares/ contracts are allocated into their hands! Not the masses that need it.
If they are sincere, why don't they pour these shares/ contracts funds to "education fund", instead of "personal coffers!
Think about it, it is been on 30 odds years!