'Thanks but no thanks': KJ turns down offer to join Perikatan

PETALING JAYA: Former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin will stick with Umno and isn’t going to join Perikatan Nasional.

“Thanks to PAS’ invitation to join Perikatan. But, I’m still loyal as a regular Umno member,” said Khairy when contacted by The Star.

Khairy’s remarks came following PAS vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, who said Perikatan and the Islamist party was ready to take in Khairy, if he gets sacked by Umno.

Meanwhile, in an Insta Story post on Thursday (Jan 26) evening, Khairy said that differing views within Umno does not translate to disloyalty to the party.

“Having different opinions with the leadership and demanding the democratic process to be respected does not mean disloyalty to the party.

“Umno belongs to its members and not just the supreme council,” said Khairy.

ALSO READ : Questions arise over Khairy’s fate in Umno

Earlier on Thursday, Ahmad Samsuri said there were certain leaders who wanted to join Perikatan and PAS.

Ahmad Samsuri, during an event in Kuala Terengganu, also said Khairy can decide on which party he would like to join in the Perikatan coalition.

Perikatan consists of PAS, Bersatu, Gerakan and Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP).

The Umno supreme council meeting on Friday (Jan 27) will be closely watched as speculation is rife that disciplinary action would be taken against Khairy for claiming that “imported delegates” were used in the recent party general assembly.

There is also mounting speculation that Khairy's Umno membership is hanging in the balance.

ALSO READ : KJ's Umno status likely to be decided only on Jan 27

During the Umno assembly, Khairy claimed that tags on chairs meant for Umno delegates at a hall were removed in an attempt to bring in “imported delegates” to pass the motion to have no contests for the top two party posts.

Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had said the matter would be dealt with by the disciplinary board.

The Umno general assembly on Jan 11, passed a motion that the top two posts would not be contested in the party polls, which is to be held before May 19.

This means that Ahmad Zahid and Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan will remain as the Umno president and deputy president, respectively, for another term.