ISKANDAR PUTERI: Pakatan Harapan’s Dr Maszlee Malik has accused Khairy Jamaluddin of being “trapped in old politics”.
This came after Khairy reportedly said any debate with Johor Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi should only take place if Pakatan first names its mentri besar candidate.
Maszlee, who is contesting the Puteri Wangsa seat, said he was surprised by the former Umno Youth chief’s remarks, labelling him as being out of touch with what younger voters wanted from politics.
“I did not expect KJ, who appears to be progressive, to be trapped in old politics. I thought he was forward-looking and closer to the aspirations of young people, but it turns out he is still caught in old politics.
“I think he has disappointed many of his supporters among Gen Z and the educated,” he told reporters after a dialogue session with youths here on Friday (July 3) night.
On Thursday (July 2), Khairy said Pakatan should first identify a Johor mentri besar candidate of equal standing before any debate with caretaker mentri besar Onn Hafiz could take place.
The debate proposal was suggested by a social media page in conjunction with the Johor state election in which Maszlee said he accepted the challenge.
Caretaker mentri besar Onn Hafiz declined, saying that it could create an unhealthy campaign environment.
Maszlee said Pakatan has instead offered a new style of leadership centred on a collective team rather than an individual “poster boy”.
He said younger voters were increasingly looking for a more inclusive and participatory form of politics instead of personality-driven campaigns.
He said the trend was visible globally, with Gen Z expecting leaders to value their ideas, listen to their concerns and involve them in decision-making.
“They are exposed to developments around the world and they want politics that respects their thinking, listens to their concerns and makes them feel they are part of the decision-making process instead of merely receiving decisions,” he said.
Among the issues raised during the dialogue session included data centres, job creation, efforts to bring Malaysians back from the Singapore workforce and rising cost of living.
