KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 9 — Former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar reportedly criticised federal ministers who decided to contest in the state elections on August 12.
In an interview with The Edge published today, the former Rembau MP labelled the move as unnecessary.
“There’s no reason why they should contest. What do they want to prove? I don’t know why (Transport Minister) Anthony Loke is contesting. Maybe because there’s some internal Negeri Sembilan DAP factor that needs to see him anchoring it. I’m not sure but it’s unnecessary.
“For Tok Mat (Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan), it is because he thinks he is the best and doesn’t think anyone else can win, unfortunately. As a deputy president of the party (Umno) and now a minister at a relatively senior ministry, I think it is time for him to let go. Unless he is angling to be the MB (menteri besar), which will be a surprise,” he was quoted as saying.
However, Khairy defended Jelebu MP Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias’s decision to take part in the Negeri Sembilan state poll.
“On Jalaluddin, although he is an MP, he is contesting because he wants to be the MB of Negeri Sembilan. His reasoning is a bit better than Tok Mat’s. He has made a tactical calculation that if he contests and BN ends up with more seats than PH (in Negeri Sembilan), then he can ask. If I were him, I would ask for it,” he said.
Jalaluddin will contest in the Pertang seat in Negeri Sembilan while Loke and Tok Mat will contest in Chennah and Rantau seat respectively.
