GEORGE TOWN: Former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin believes Barisan Nasional still has a chance of winning the Negri Sembilan state election, but warned that the contest would be much closer than the Johor polls.
Khairy, who has been campaigning in the state, said Barisan candidates must make full use of the remaining campaign period to engage voters and present their plans for their constituencies.
"I have been campaigning in Negri Sembilan for several days and I find that the contest is more intense than in Johor.
"There are still three days left for campaigning. I hope Barisan candidates will continue meeting voters and offering what they intend to do as elected representatives.
"We have a chance, God willing, to win and form the government. But it will be a very close election, so we must work very hard," he told reporters after speaking at a sharing session at the Setia SPICE Convention Centre on Tuesday (July 28).
He was responding to a question on whether the support from young voters that benefited Barisan in Johor could be replicated in Negri Sembilan.
Khairy also dismissed claims by Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil that he was using Malay sentiment to revive his political career.
He said raising issues affecting specific communities should not automatically be viewed as racial politics.
"If we talk about the interests of the Malays, Chinese education or Indian estate workers, does that mean it is wrong? I don't think so.
"I represented Umno and was voicing the concerns of the Malay community. There is nothing wrong with that.
"We also do not criticise other parties when they raise issues affecting the Chinese or Indian communities. That is the reality of politics in Malaysia," he said.
On his future plans, Khairy said he remained active in both politics and business but had already begun planning a transition for his podcast Keluar Sekejap.
"If I am given the opportunity to contest, win and become an elected representative, then I will leave (Keluar Sekejap)," he said.
Khairy also said his political involvement would not turn the Keluar Sekejap podcast into a platform for political propaganda.
He said the programme would continue to feature differing views, joking that co-host Shahril Hamdan was encouraged to criticise Umno to maintain balance.
"If I become a full-time politician again, then I will leave (the podcast)," he added.
