Big and busy year ahead for KJ

Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has had an eventful 2016 but the super-fit politician is up against a more punishing schedule next year as he prepares for the SEA Games, the TN50 project and the general election.

KHAIRY Jamaluddin’s office at the Youth and Sports Ministry is simple yet tasteful, with shelves of book titles that speak of the intellect of the Minister.

The books are an interesting mix of topics – politics, biographies, economics, religion, philosophy, tech-science and travelogues. And from the way he thinks and talks, you can tell that the books are not there for show.

He pointed out that the furniture and even the rugs are from the time of his predecessor Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek. But he has brought in some little personal touches like family photographs, an antique dial telephone which most people under 30 would not know how to use and a set of long spears which he once joked was meant for one of us.

Khairy sat down with The Star ahead of the Umno Youth assembly which starts next week and where he will likely be making his last policy speech as the Youth chief.

He confirmed that would be his final term heading the wing. He did not elaborate on what would be next but the only way to go is up and he will probably be vying for one of the three vice-presidents post in the next Umno election.

Policy speeches are always tightly guarded against leaks but Khairy did drop a hint – his speech will press home the need to continue with the new DNA that he has put in place in the Youth wing.

Over the years, the Umno Youth wing has lurched from one identity crisis to another – rebels with a cause, rebels without a cause, echo chambers.

Khairy’s term at the top has been marked by the wing conducting surveys to come up with concrete proposals, some which have been taken on board as policies for the youth generation. The DNA he hopes will survive after him has less empty rhetoric and more productive debate.

The Youth and Sports portfolio is tailor-made for the super fit 40-year-old – he is crazy about football, he plays a wide range of sports and he connects so well with the millennials.

A football jersey, mounted in a gold frame and bearing the autograph of the legendary Pele – “KJ the great, stay thirsty” – hangs in the waiting room outside.

Asked where he would love to go next if he could choose, he said: “Education, because I think it’s so important and I’ve got some ideas. I think I’d like to give it a go.”

He showed us some of the ideas for the programmes and launch next year of the TN50 project which the Prime Minister has entrusted him to kickstart.

"Young people’s asset is their imagination, so we will ask them to imagine what Kuala Lumpur will be like in 2050. The opportunities are endless." - Khairy Jamaluddin

Khairy started out as a rather one dimensional politician, somewhat reserved, aloof and shy. But he has always been known for his sharp learning curve and he shines in his Cabinet portfolio.

Asked about his acting skits which can be viewed on YouTube, he quipped: “Most politicians are actors, you know.”

Khairy earned much respect when he sent his firstborn to a national school. The father of three also spoke of his middle child who is autistic and whom he felt would cope better in an international school. But his youngest, now a toddler, will join his eldest brother in a national school.

Below are excerpts from the straight-talking interview.

Is this your last term as Umno Youth chief?

This is definitely my last term. There have been certain people trying to convince me to stay on but I’m 40 already. Although there is no age limit on the Umno Youth leader, I think the Umno Youth leader should be of Umno Youth age, at least below 45 years old.

Even though I still qualify I’ve been there two terms. Add one term as the deputy head and one term as an exco member, that’s four terms in total. Saturation point. We need somebody new. New ideas, new people, new person, new excitement. It’s time for me to go.

There are a few in the exco who are ready and capable to take over like my deputy Azwan (Khairul Azwan Harun). He has to get the support but I’ve been training him. Azwan has come a long way, he’s been a good apprentice and it’s time for him to step up. Even though he’s 40 years old, he’s new in the sense that he’s not been there yet.

The big league next for you?

It depends on how GE14 goes. I’m not really thinking about where I’m going yet. I’ve already made a decision that I won’t stand for Umno Youth chief anymore but my focus is still on GE14. I’m committed to be the Umno Youth leader until after GE14, so I have to lead the Umno Youth machinery into the election. After that, we will see what happens.

I have friends coming who suggest things here and there, but I always tell them: “Look, the focus really has to be on GE14”. I know some of my colleagues are already making preparations or whatever, but the PM, during one of the Umno supreme council meetings, made it very clear when he said: “I don’t want any talk about party elections, I just want us to focus on the general election”. I’m holding firm to that.

The reason why I say I’m leaving Umno Youth is because when you leave, you have to give notice. I’m not giving notice to say that I’m going to another position, I’m giving notice to my Umno Youth members so that they prepare for life after me very soon.

I’ve been in Umno Youth so long that the movement may evolve into my image and I don’t like that. That’s why I let Azwan and some of the exco members be at the forefront the past few months and do the programmes without me being there. As the leader who has been in a position too long, you cannot cast a shadow on your successor.

Top three issues of concern to the youth cohort?

They’re still concerned about cost of living. A recent graduate will find it difficult to make ends meet, so we really have to increase accessibility to affordable housing. We’ve succeeded in suggesting to the Government various schemes to make it easier for first time house-buyers, transit homes for young people where they can stay for two, three years before they move on. The political push needs to continue.

The other issue is the perception of stagnant wages. People feel their wages are not going up as quickly as inflation. So we need to continue to push the Government to change the structure of the economy, create better paying jobs. We need to change the economy in order to ensure that people get better jobs.

The third issue is to assist them in training. One programme we found extremely popular are clinics where we help them with presen­tation skills, soft skills, resume clinics and English speaking courses.

Recently, we did coding camps. The turnout has been fantastic. That means young people are not there for handouts from the Government. They want to improve themselves but they need the opportunities. The Government and political parties like Umno have a big role to play in providing these opportunities for them.

The thrust of your Umno Youth assembly speech?

It will be to lock in the Umno Youth DNA so that it doesn’t revert to the old type. I’ve worked very hard to change the DNA of Umno Youth and I hope it stays that way, where we can offer thinking solutions.

We can still do the ‘red meat’ stuff – we still have members who may join Jamal (Datuk Seri Jamal Yunos) – but we are not at the forefront of that anymore. We have to change. Young people want to see professionalism in our politics and I want to lock in that DNA. My message will be a bit of that. Of course the new leader will have new ideas, but this philosophy and new DNA must continue.

Issues that will surface at the Umno Youth assembly?

The focus will also be on the general election, also on this Dr Mahathir issue. One thing we’re concerned about is divided hearts and loyalties. We’re worried that some of our members may still be holding a candle for him. That’s the worst thing you can have – enemies within your ranks.

We need to make a strong case that he’s not with us anymore, we must fight him and anyone else who is not with us anymore. We must draw the battle lines at this general assembly. No more split loyalties or divided hearts, and we must be firm that we’ve decided to carry the Prime Minister, who is the president, to the next election and we cannot waver on that.

Your children attend national school?

My eldest son goes to national school. You have to have as normal an upbringing as possible and I am quite confident of the national school system especially at the primary level.

My second goes to international school. My eldest knows his younger brother is autistic, he understands that the needs are different. My second son is not sent to national school for no other reason than because I believe national schools still cannot cater for special needs as best as international schools can. I don’t apologise for it, it’s a very personal decision. My third son, he is typical so he will go to the same school as his brother.

I try to go back for dinner because that’s the time when I see my kids. They eat at six or six thirty, I eat dinner with them and I take some work home.

Your take on GE14.

I think we will win, we are working for a good result. I wouldn’t be here in my position if I didn’t think we’ll win. Obviously I am a believer in the party, I have a big role to play in the election and we can do it. But I think the PM will have to call the election at the right time. The sweet spot of timing is important, you got to call it when people feel good, positive, when you have been able to isolate the problems as well as possible.

We have done a lot of good for the B40 (those in the bottom 40%) , the BR1M recipients, but we need to give more hope to the middle class whether it’s political stability or our vision for the future, we need to convey the message. We can’t give up on the middle class and say we lost that vote.

Lessons from the US election?

One thing about the dissatisfaction here is that it’s not untapped or unseen like over there where it was in people’s hearts. In Malaysia, for the last two, three years, if people are angry, you know. They are very open about it. In Trump’s case, they didn’t say they wanted to support him when they did. Here if people don’t like Barisan, they say it.

A lesson from the polls is you have to be seen as something different. Hillary for all her competence was seen as stale. Obviously, you want to be different in a good way, but Trump was different in a bad way and still got elected as president. He carries a lot negatives into office. He now has to reconcile his promises about Muslims and the wall. If he doesn’t want to do it, later he’ll have to say why.

Have the attacks on 1MDB and the Government’s handling of the economy affected youth sentiments?

It’s had a pretty big impact on young people especially urban youth. There’s a certain segment of young Malaysians whom we simply cannot ‘turn around’ in the time that’s left before the general election, so we have to be more discerning on the type of votes that we go after.

I don’t think we should waste our time with certain segments, which is not to say I view people who don’t support us or who are critical of 1MDB as my enemies, these are people we serve as elected representatives. But in terms of your resource allocations over the next 12 months – assuming elections are held within that time – you have to explain as best as possible to people who are neutral.

Impact of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Parti Pribumi on youth vote?

I’ve always maintained we shouldn’t take this lightly. Young people are bereft of the experience of actually living through his premiership. They have a very skewed understanding of what happened, so you get young people on social media saying they miss the times of Dr Mahathir. They weren’t even born then, so I don’t understand what they’re missing.

They have this projected understanding of Dr Mahathir – the Twin Towers, Putrajaya – they don’t know the nuances of how it also came with destroyed institutions, the curbs on freedoms, and everything people aged 40 and above would know and remember.

This mythification of Dr Mahathir that we’ve created unfortunately when he was still part of Umno has resulted in this new generation who think that he’s done no wrong. So yes, there is an effect. I’m not going to say there isn’t. We have to be able to confront this.

Dr Mahathir is supporting the free Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim campaign.

The PM is right. This is the politics of hypocrisy, the politics of expediency, the end justifies the means. What is the end? It’s him wanting to change the Government, change the Prime Minister. It’s unpalatable to many people who have gone through the trauma of 1998 – you put us through the trauma of sacking Anwar, splitting the Malays, splitting Umno and then convincing us to fight Anwar and hate Anwar.

And we did it willingly because you asked us to do it, only for you to now turn around and say if the price of getting Barisan Nasional out is to free Anwar, then so be it. It’s just distasteful and disrespectful to us within Umno who went along with this plan.

What does it mean, that you as the youngest Cabinet member was picked to head the TN50 or 2050 National Transformation dialogue?

It’s a big honour. The PM wanted the first phase of the TN50 to be a discourse that brings young people together. His explanation to me was: “Look, in 2050 it is the people who are young today who will lead the country, so they will need to tell us first what their hopes and aspirations are before we come up with a vision for the next 30 years”.

Young people are our core stakeholders so I don’t think it was with me in mind. It’s a bottom-up approach so that the voice of young people is heard.

By the way, TN50 is not a replacement of Vision 2020. Some people say it’s to erase it. No, Vision 2020 will finish in the year 2020. It doesn’t mean we can’t have another vision for the next 30 years, so that’s something we have to explain.

The PM wants to see that process so that there is a sense of ownership by everyone and not just something the Government decided. As such, when people see TN50 they will say, “Hey, that part was my voice, something we spoke about and suggested”. I think that’s the right way to do it, and you have this sense of collective ownership and sense of vision and responsibility from the people.

Developments on TN50?

It will kick off in January next year. The PM will officiate the ‘kick off’ event. He said that after the kick off, it will be handed over to me, so I will have to go around the country and do the townhall and focus group sessions. We will have as many sessions so that nobody can say they were not consulted. It’s going to be a messy process. I mean you’re going to have so many different comments and ideas, most of which will probably be things that are difficult to implement.

But there will be great suggestions. We will try and wrap things up in 18 months.

If it’s just talk sessions and townhalls it’s going to be boring after a while, so I’ve been thinking of essay competitions for school kids to write what they imagine Malaysia to be in 2050.

At university level, we will have debates on whether in 2050 we will have the death penalty, or will we still be importing food. Short film competitions where young directors take us through Kuala Lumpur in seven minutes in how they imagine the city. Artists to do their interpretation of Malaysia in 2050. Young people’s asset is their imagination, so we will ask them to imagine what Kuala Lumpur will be like in 2050. The opportunities are endless.

A major year ahead and a good run-up to your political plans?

I’ve got TN50, I’ve got the SEA Games. I could not have designed it this way, it’s all a coincidence. But I have to deliver. If I don’t deliver a good SEA Games and a good rollout of TN50, then there will be a huge disappointment. People are excited about TN50, they are excited about the SEA Games. These are probably two of the most high profile events next year and I just happen to be in place.

The PM said to me: ‘You have one KPI next year apart from TN50, I want to win the SEA Games – Malaysia as overall champions.