Will KJ do the tango with Ahmad Zahid?

DATUK Seri Dr Ahmad Hamidi has told two of the biggest thorns in his side that they can stay out of Umno forever.

He was referring to Khairy Jamaluddin and Shahril Sufian Hamdan of the Keluar Sekejap podcast with whom Umno leaders seem to have a love-hate relationship.

The pair thought their time in political Siberia would be temporary but as the Umno president put it, "mereka boleh kekal di luar" (they can stay away permanently).

Ahmad Zahid’s remarks made during an interview with the Bulletin TV3 podcast came across as uncompromising and rather harsh. It was like a padlock on the door.

"The president has slammed the door shut but in politics, nothing is permanently locked," said an aide to a Johor leader.

Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz is another big thorn but the president knows better than to go at him because the International Trade and Industry Minister is the Prime Minister’s blue-eyed boy.

For several months, there was hope that Ahmad Zahid might be thawing and a Penang Umno leader was said to have canvassed the president on the pair’s behalf. Khairy has supporters in Umno who go back to his years as Umno Youth leader and who still refer to him as "Chief".

But the Umno president was furious when Khairy claimed that Law Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said had known about, but stayed silent, on the royal addendum.

The addendum to enable Datuk Seri Najib Razak to serve his sentence under house arrest is very sensitive to Umno.

Ahmad Zahid is the Deputy Prime Minister in a government in which the partners rose to power by bringing down Najib and here he is trying to facilitate Najib’s bid for house arrest.

It is no secret that Pakatan Harapan leaders are opposed to the move for fear that their base will turn on them.

It is extremely awkward and he has to tread a fine line so as not to offend the palace or the feelings of his new friends in Putrajaya.

"From what we understand, Zahid has stuck his neck out for Najib. He signed an affidavit confirming he was aware of the addendum at a time when people were only whispering about it.

"He was also supportive of Umno members joining the Jan 6 rally in Putrajaya but had to respect the wishes of the palace," said lawyer and Umno politician Ainul Aizat Ahmad Ishak.

Ahmad Zahid is also known to have used his powers judiciously. He had approved special privileges for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when the latter was imprisoned and it is known among his inner circle that he has also gone out of his way to assist Najib.

"I can sense his frustration that some Umno members think he is not doing enough for Najib," said Ainul Aizat.

It upsets him that those managing Najib’s Facebook, which has 4.6mil followers, are more critical of the unity government than Perikatan Nasional.

Ahmad Zahid also told the Bulletin TV3 podcast of Umno’s aim to hold on to the 26 parliament seats won in 2022 and to win more seats.

"Umno would be able to send a positive signal with personalities like Khairy and Shahril onboard," said the above aide.

Ahmad Zahid will also have to do what it takes to keep Johor as a Barisan Nasional state if he plans to go another term as Umno president.

The party will need Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, who was suspended for six years, to defend Sembrong. Umno would be letting itself down by losing him because the former minister has an awesome reputation in the Middle-East and is also being courted by the opposition.

Ahmad Zahid is not easy to read despite all these years in the public eye. He can be fierce and a bully one day and warm and jovial the next. Some days, he is bursting with vigour while on other days, he looks his age.

"He is not ill, he is in his seventies and only Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamd and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim can go on and on," said the above aide.

Ahmad Zahid also does not hesitate to use his powers as a minister to help others.

A Chinese journalist from Penang recalled approaching Ahmad Zahid when he was the Home Minister to say that his mother held a red identity card despite living all her adult life in Malaysia. He asked the journalist to submit an application to him and about a year later, his mother received a blue identity card.

Ahmad Zahid has faced personal and political challenges that few Umno presidents have encountered and it is quite miraculous that he has steered the party from further disaster.

The more cynical say the real miracle is that he has survived the corruption charges against him.

"Behind the tough guy image is a soft and forgiving heart," said Ainul Aizat.

While his heart soften enough to accept the rebels? Khairy and Shahril will have to do their part if they wish to return.

"At times, they seem to be digging themselves deeper into a hole instead of finding a ladder to climb up," said the aide to a Johor leader.

The perception in Umno is that the pair are waiting for an angel to appear from somewhere to whizz them back into the party.

However, Shahril, who was suspended for six years, recently told Berita Harian he bears no grudges towards Ahmad Zahid and that he prays for the latter’s health and well-being.

It does not need a miracle for them to return but it does take two to tango.

Meanwhile, Khairy and Shahril have market value and rumours have started of fresh approaches being made to the pair.