Former Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin (KJ) has an idea of who might become Malaysia’s next Prime Minister.
According to KJ, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi may replace Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the country’s next PM.
In a recent episode of the Keluar Sekejap podcast, Khairy said he believes the likelihood of Ahmad Zahid becoming the next prime minister is increasing, noting that “the odds are shortening.”
He said the current political landscape, marked by internal divisions within several parties, has worked to UMNO’s advantage, as the party is perceived as relatively more stable than its rivals.
“If we look at almost all political parties, they are experiencing ruptures, civil wars and internal divisions. UMNO, whether we like it or not, seems very stable.”
Khairy, who was previously fired from UMNO, also admitted that the party’s stability has created a positive perception among the public, especially in terms of managing differing views within the leadership.
“We can discuss Ahmad Zahid’s tactical moves and so on, but it gives people the impression that he can manage differences very well.”
“Just look at how he handled the differences in stance with Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh. Even though their views were very different, it did not cause any division within UMNO,” KJ said on the podcast.
According to him, UMNO is currently viewed as the most organised party and does not face major internal problems compared to others. In this regard, Khairy believes that if the momentum continues until the next election, Ahmad Zahid is likely to lead Malaysia as the next prime minister.
What do you think of KJ’s take on this?
