SUNGAI PETANI: Datuk Megat Zulkarnain Omardin has questioned the rationale behind Khairy Jamaluddin's revelation that Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahidi Hamidi had offered him the Umno deputy president post.

Megat Zulkarnain, who is Umno Supreme Council member and also political secretary to Zahid, said such statements have to come with proof.

"However, if it was true that had made such an offer to Khairy, it merely showed that the Umno president was opening a space for young leaders like him.

"If indeed it was true, it also shows that Khairy has bigger political appetite," he told reporters after attending the state Umno's 'Jelajah Bina Semula' tour here today.

Present were state Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Jamil Khir Baharom, his deputy Datuk Suraya Yaacob and Sungai Petani Umno division chief Datuk Shahanim Mohd Yusoff.

Megat was responding to Khairy's claim that Zahid had offered him the post of deputy president before the last party polls.

It was reported earlier today that Khairy, who was sacked from Umno 10 days ago, said he however turned down the role as he had felt that there should be a change in leadership within Umno itself.

Commenting further, Megat stressed said Khairy's claims no longer carried any weight for Umno, as the former Rembau MP was no longer with the party.

Megat, who had served as the national Umno Youth executive council member during Khairy's stint as the wing's chief, also urged the former health minister to stop attacking the party.

"As a former leader in Umno, it is unfair for Khairy to make negative statements about Umno.

"He had issues with the president and not with the party that he once held as the best party.

"You have to differentiate between your issue with an individual and the party itself.

"You can't bring everyone (in the party) into your personal problems. This just shows his true colours," he said.

On Khairy's prediction that Umno would lose all the seats the party is contesting in the upcoming state election in Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan, Megat said he viewed it as a challenge.

"It's okay, that is his prediction.

"When he was campaigning for the Sungai Buloh parliamentary seat (in the 15th General Election), he arrogantly said he wanted to lead the country, that he wanted to become the prime minister.

"He said he wanted to lead the party (Umno) but in the end, he lost in Sungai Buloh.

"So, my advice is, let's not jump the gun," said Megat.

He said Umno was not being overconfident over its chances in the upcoming state polls.

"Just like in Selangor, we are focusing on the preparation and we are not being overconfident as we acknowledged the GE15 results.

"The voters are being very dynamic now. We lost in GE14 and everybody said it was the end of the road for Umno.

"However, we then won seven by-elections before winning in two state elections but we ended up losing in GE15.

"Thus, the voters are very dynamic and we leave it to them to decide," he said.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2023/02/877050/why-bring-it-now-megat-zulkarnain-asks-kj-over-umno-deputy-president