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KUALA LUMPUR – Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is keeping mum on whether former party youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin will be expelled from the party after openly criticising the former.
Zahid, who is also rural and regional development minister, told reporters at a ministry event today that this will be determined by the Umno Supreme Council, which is scheduled to meet tomorrow night.
“Wait for the meeting (to know if Khairy will be fired from Umno).
“To (fire) him individually is not that important, but we will be doing a massive purge,” he said as quoted by The Vibes' sister portal Getaran, alluding that several other party leaders will be axed to ensure that the Barisan Nasional linchpin remains relevant among citizens.
When pressed by the media to name party figures who might be removed, Zahid referred to remarks he made during the recent Umno general assembly about culling party dissenters.
“During the assembly, I said that we will be doing a massive clean-up (involving) those who sabotaged the party, our candidates, and even themselves during GE15 (15th general elections).
“‘Massive’ means that members will be fired. I have to embargo all the details until a suitable time,” he said.
Media reported that the Umno disciplinary board met last night to discuss Khairy’s fate and make recommendations for action.
The former health minister, who lost to Pakatan Harapan in the Sg Buloh parliamentary seat during GE15, had called for Zahid’s resignation after the polls saw Umno’s worst electoral performance since its formation.
While campaigning in the general election, Khairy had also said Umno under Zahid’s leadership had lost its way and was in need of “cleansing”. He also declared his prime minister ambitions and the possibility of contesting the Umno presidency.
He had also opposed the decision to leave the party’s top two posts uncontested in its coming internal elections, with rumours claiming that he intends to gun for the deputy president post.
During Umno’s recent annual general assembly, he also claimed “ghost delegates” were brought in to bulldoze the vote on the no-contest motion. – The Vibes, January 26, 2023
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