Looking to challenge Khairy

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: PETALING JAYA: Umno grassroots leaders have admitted that there was a campaign called 'anyone but KJ' going around to unseat the incumbent Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

However, little or no impact is expected from this movement as no candidate fielded to contest against Khairy is popular enough,

"I think it will definitely not have much of an impact on KJ. If KJ were to contest in a straight fight, he would still win. What more a five-corner fight," said a source close to Umno.

The source said the 'anyone but KJ' rumblings mostly came from one of the contenders in the Youth chief contest, Abdul Karim Ali.

He said the former Merbok Umno Youth chief was unlikely to do well at Youth exco level, let alone contest at the top post of the Youth wing.

"I don't think he will even get 10 percent of the votes this upcoming party election," said the source.

Another source told The Star Online that the campaign did not represent the majority of the Youth grassroots.

"So far I have heard that every grassroots leader is throwing their support behind Khairy," he said.

However, he expected a tough fight from contender Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidah Sanusi, the son of former Cabinet member and ex-Kedah Menteri Besar Tan Sri Sanusi Junid.

"I think Akhramsyah is an underdog and definitely will put up a fight especially he has strong backing from his division in Langkawi," he said.

In the upcoming party election, Khairy is facing four challengers for this coveted post, seen by many as a growing attempt to deny him a second term.

Besides Akhramsyah and Abdul Karim, the Youth and Sports minister is also set to face Pusat Bandar Taman Chempaka Umno Youth branch assistant secretary Syed Rosli Syed Harman Jamallulail and Bukit Setiawangsa Umno Youth chief Irwan Ambak Khalid Izhar.