Umno purge: 'Join us', says Gerakan to KJ

PETALING JAYA: Gerakan is the first party to openly court Khairy Jamaluddin (pic) following his sacking from Umno on Friday (Jan 27).

Acting Gerakan Youth chief Wong Chia Zhen said Khairy would be a perfect fit for the party.

“Umno’s supreme council has decided to sack former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin for breaching party discipline due to offences during the 15th General Election.

“In my opinion, the decision of the council is not appropriate because Khairy is a politician of calibre and succeeded in putting pressure on his opponent in Sungai Buloh during the last election.

“The majority won by the PKR candidate was reduced from 10,000 to 1,000, proving to be the only Pakatan Harapan stronghold that almost lost,” he said in a statement.

Wong added that Khairy was the biggest casualty during the election due to bad sentiment towards Barisan Nasional but in the end, Pakatan Harapan joined with Barisan to become the government.

“In fact, this should not happen because Khairy proved to be one of the most performing ministers during the Covid-19 era.

“This decision is not fair for Khairy,” he said.

Meanwhile, Wong welcomed Khairy to join Gerakan.

“We believe that at the lowest point in his political career, we can support him.

“The ideology of our party is based on simplicity and with the credibility he has, I am sure this will give Khairy a new lease on life.

“Even though Khairy played on the issue of racism, Malay voters in Penang were not given enough attention when he was still the Umno Youth Chief, but we are willing to forgive him because we realise that we are all human, humans must make mistakes.

“I am confident and believe that Gerakan is the right platform for Khairy for now," he said.

On Friday (Jan 27), Umno started its purge, having sacked Khairy and supreme council member Tan Sri Noh Omar.

Others punished included former vice-president and Sembrong MP Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, who was suspended for six years.

Former Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan, former Youth exco member Datuk Dr Fathul Bari Mat Jahya, former Johor state exco member and Tebrau Umno division chief Datuk Maulizan Bujang and former Jempol MP Datuk Seri Mohd Salim Mohd Shariff were also suspended for six years.