KJ's shift from contented to not so happy

KUALA LUMPUR: “Suddenly, I am not so happy where I am.”

This was the short response given by Rembau member of parliament Khairy Jamaluddin when asked to comment on the appointment of Datuk Seri Najib Razak as Barisan Nasional (BN) advisory board chairman.

This was also seemingly in reference to his statement on Monday that he was “content where he was” when asked to comment on an invitation for him to join Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).

Last night, Najib was appointed as chairman of the BN advisory board after the coalition’s supreme council meeting.

As for Padang Rengas MP Datuk Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, he labeled the appointment as a "regressive move".

Asked if the appointment was a good measure to revive BN, Nazri replied; “I don’t know, I really don’t know. You have to ask Zahid (Umno president and BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi).

“You know... Zahid, Najib and (Datuk Seri) Tengku Adnan (Tengku Mansor) who signed the letter, they have been charged in court.

“I don’t know, probably they want to make a statement to tell PM (Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad) ‘what can you do to us?’,” he said.

Pressed further over whether the appointment would help revive BN, Nazri replied: “BN lost under whom?”

He said the appointment would also not make Umno any better.

However, other Umno members were quick to defend Najib’s appointment.

Umno veteran leader Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, though admitting that the appointment had caught him by surprise, welcomed it, saying that Najib had vast experience as a former leader of the coalition.

“I think we can get some of his practical experience to pass on to us, in the light of the problems that we are facing today,” he said.

Asked if the appointment was appropriate as usually any former leaders who had been charged in court seldom made a comeback, Tengku Razaleigh said Najib’s appointment was not a comeback.

“This is not a comeback. He has been active, therefore there is nothing wrong with him being formally made an adviser to BN, even if the people will not take heed of what he said.”

Tengku Razaleigh also dismissed suggestions that Najib would be a liability for BN.

He said he was aware that some BN members were not happy with Najib’s appointment.

“I’m sure they have their own reasons,” he said.

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob also dismissed allegations that Najib was a liability to BN as well as the reason for the coalition’s downfall during the last general election.

“We lost in the 14th General Election due to issues played up by Pakatan Harapan (PH), along with their ‘sweet promises’.

“Maybe it was also due to accusations thrown against Najib, causing many voters to fall for it.”

Elaborating, he said Najib’s appointment was to advise the coalition and that he would not be involved with policies and the party.

“He was just appointed yesterday, so give him a chance before making any speculations.

“I believe that everyone can contribute, even just a little,” he said.

Sembrong MP Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said BN should ignore all criticism levelled against the coalition over Najib’s appointment.

“We don’t have to entertain PH. They will continue to attack, it’s their job,” he said.