KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 11 — Negeri Sembilan Bersatu is willing to give former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar the menteri besar post, its chapter chief Datuk Eddin Syazlee Shith reportedly said.
According to Malaysiakini, Eddin said the party does not have a problem with offering the post to the former Rembau MP as it is more important to ensure that Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional (PN) win in the state polls.
“Of course, whoever the party president thinks is suitable to helm the post, he can be menteri besar, we leave it to the party leadership,” he reportedly said.
Eddin said if Khairy were to join Bersatu, he will add value to the party because of his leadership qualities.
“But till now, we do not know what is KJ’s real status after he was sacked from Umno,” he said.
He said Negeri Sembilan Bersatu or PN have not held any official meeting with Khairy on this.
“It is now up to the party leadership to discuss with Khairy because we do not want too many people meeting with him,” he said, adding that they will follow any orders from party leadership regarding this.
It was previously reported that Khairy is mulling several offers including the menteri besar post if his suitor wins.
However, Khairy did not reveal which party offered the post and is still undecided on whether he wants to contest in the state polls.
“If I do decide to sit out the state polls, then I will have more time to decide which political platform I will choose as the next chapter in my political journey,” he reportedly said.
Last month, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan announced the sacking of former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and former Selangor Umno chief Tan Sri Noh Omar as party members due to alleged breaches of party discipline according to Umno’s constitution.
Umno also imposed a six-year suspension of party rights of Shahril Sufian Hamdan, former vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Datuk Maulizan Bujang and Datuk Seri Mohd Salim Sharif.
