Khairy explains why Azman removed
by Johan Aziz. Posted on May 30, 2011, Monday
KENINGAU: Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin yesterday said Keningau Umno Youth chief Azman Haji Ruslan was removed as Sabah Umno Youth chief to prevent a ‘cold war’ from escalating in the party.
Khairy said he had to change the leadership with a heavy heart as he wanted to save Azman and Sabah Umno Youth.
Speaking when opening the Keningau Umno Youth delegates’ conference at Hotel Juta here yesterday, he said the cold war had become an open secret. It not only existed in Sabah but also throughout the country, and Azman became the victim.
“I had to decide what should I do to save Azman and Sabah Umno Youth,” he said, adding he took the decision not because Azman did not perform his duties as Sabah Umno Youth chief well or he was not a good leader.
As chairman of the Sabah Barisan Nasional Youth, he said Azman had done an excellent job.
Khairy added he did not want Umno Youth to be trapped and plunged into the cold war.
Several Umno Youth divisions in the state had expressed unhappiness over the removal of Azman as State Umno Youth chief, stating that it was a great loss to the party and the movement in the interior.
They called on Khairy to reinstate Azman and wanted to know the reason for the change of leadership.
The youth leaders also expressed concern that if no effort was taken to settle the issue in the near future, it would give a bad impact and affect the State Barisan Nasional in the coming 13th general election.
Khairy hoped that the issue would not dampen the spirit of members in struggling for the party.
He also praised Azman, who was at the meeting, for bringing people to the meeting and this showed that he (Azman) is a good leader.
“I believe Azman would become a great leader again with the support from the members,” he said.
According to Khairy, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was sacked from Umno and Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was defeated and stripped of government post. Due to their commitment and struggle in the party, the two leaders became the prime ministers and respected leaders.
Stressing that struggle for the party is more important than personal ambitions, Khairy said he was not angry and frustrated for not being appointed to any government post after his appointment to the top post in Umno Youth.
“I am still committed to the struggle of Umno and faithful to the leadership of the Umno president,” he said.
Keningau Division Umno chief Datuk Haji Sairin Karno was among the more than 500 youth delegates who attended the meeting.
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