Nothing wrong with 'kampung' politics, says Khairy

There is nothing wrong in playing kampung politics, as long as the fate and welfare of the Malays are safeguarded.

UMNO Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin said UMNO was still accepted by the kampung youth, and upholding Malay rights did not mean that other races would be sidelined.

Khairy, who is also Youth and Sports Minister, said UMNO defends all Malaysians without neglecting the rights of any race.

"If kampung politics is our strength, and if kampung politics suits us, then we carry on with it. Besides, the kampung folks love us.

"The challenge here is to gain support from the urban and rural youth," he said after officiating the UMNO Bachok meeting, here, Friday.

Khairy was commenting on a blog post by former information minister Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin who shared his opinion about a statement by an MCA leader recently.

Zainuddin had lauded MCA central committee leader Ti Lian Ker's call for UMNO to stop using scare tactics against other races to win over Malay votes.

He said, despite the party's wing being led by an Oxford graduate, it still allowed its members to play with kampung politics which is no longer relevant with the more educated and younger generation of Malays.