Don't take Dr Mahathir's new party lightly, Khairy warns

UMNO Youth have been reminded not to take the imminent formation of a new party by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, lightly.

Its chief Khairy Jamaluddin said it would be arrogant to do so particularly as leaders of the new party is said to comprise a powerhouse in the person of Dr Mahathir, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir.

"I don't want to hear from among the Youth that it is just a splinter party which will not last long...that is being arrogant and what Malays don't like.

"Actually we should say, it's alright, we will take the party seriously because it is formed by bigwigs, but we are confident and believe the party will not get the support of the majority of Malays compared to UMNO," he said.

Officiating at the closing of the Sepang UMNO Pemuda and Puteri divisional conference last night, Khairy said the situation might change if the party that is to be formed carries a larger agenda for the country, not solely to topple a leader.

He said the aim of the party which as understood, would be spearheaded by Muhyiddin to draw UMNO backers and members' support for its agenda to topple party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak was something that the Youth wing as UMNO's frontliners should pay attention to.

As long as the president has not committed any wrong, is trustworthy, our responsibility as the party's youth is to defend the presidential institution and the party leadership which had been elected democratically, he said.

Khairy reiterated that UMNO Youth and other members should not worry about being labeled, 'macai' 'balaci' and other negative nicknames in their role as defenders of the party and the president because it is a responsibility they must carry out as the party's machinery.

"We must double our efforts to make sure that the president is not alone, whatever he says are conveyed to the people, speak about them and mention them everywhere because that is our role as 'hands and engine' to the president," he said.

Meanwhile, Khairy said UMNO members must not readily allow the 'give in' attitude to set in against negative perception created of them by the enemy; on the other hand, they must rise and promptly defend the party particularly in the current challenging political environment.