GERIK – Barisan Nasional’s (BN) Sg Buloh candidate Khairy Jamaluddin has the potential to lead the country, reiterated the coalition’s youth chief Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.
Asyraf said his predecessor Khairy has proven himself at the national level by helming several cabinet posts under the BN and Perikatan Nasional (PN) federal administrations.
“He is already a national leader and has gone through several levels of leadership.
“Of course, BN has chosen Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob as the poster boy for this election but as to what the future holds, who knows?
“I will say that he (Khairy) is one of the promising leaders in the party,” he said on the sidelines when met during a walkabout in town here today.
Asyraf added that Umno remains a democratic party and welcomes those who have ambitions for leadership roles with the aim of serving the people.
He said Khairy has opted for a sound strategy by offering himself as the nation’s future leader to convince Sg Buloh voters that he is worthy of their support.
During a recent ceramah in Sg Buloh, Khairy has openly expressed his intention of becoming prime minister.
However, it was followed by a retort by BN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who urged Khairy to first win his seat.
Khairy had also claimed that he was forced to run in Sg Buloh as top party leaders had kept mum over where he would contest, only to offer him the seat at the last minute.
Zahid had hit back, saying it was Khairy who asked for the seat, and he should be grateful to be given an opportunity to contest.
Khairy is contesting in Sg Buloh for the first time, having given way to Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan in Rembau – a seat Khairy held since 2008.
His main contender in Sg Buloh’s seven-cornered fight appears to be Datuk R. Ramanan of PKR.
As for Asyraf, he is BN’s candidate for the Gerik parliamentary seat and will face Pakatan Harapan’s Ahmad Tarmizi Mohd Jam and Perikatan Nasional’s Fathul Uzir Ayob. – The Vibes, November 12, 2022
