KUALA LUMPUR – Former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin says his priority is rejoining Umno, stressing that talk of contesting seats in the next general election is premature.
“I think it is too early for us to discuss where to contest (because) I am just in the process of returning, so the matter is not appropriate to discuss,” he told reporters after attending the Aidilfitri Open House hosted by Bertam assemblyman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican.
Khairy, expelled from Umno three years ago, submitted his appeal to return on March 15. Umno vice president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin has confirmed that applications from Khairy and other former leaders, including Sembrong MP Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, will be tabled at the Umno Supreme Council meeting on April 17 under the spirit of Rumah Bangsa.
Khairy also underscored that candidate selection and seat distribution remain the prerogative of Umno president and Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
At the same time, he paid tribute to the late Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, noting the former prime minister’s wish for Kepala Batas to remain under Reezal Merican’s stewardship.
“During his lifetime, Pak Lah had advised both of us, me as his son-in-law and Reezal Merican as his political son, to let Reezal take care of Kepala Batas.
So, I will not disrespect his decision and wish. I hope that Reezal Merican will succeed in the GE and be able to reclaim the Kepala Batas parliamentary seat,” Khairy said.
Reezal, now chairman of MATRADE, lost the Kepala Batas seat in GE15 to Perikatan Nasional’s Dr Siti Mastura Muhammad by a 2,867-vote majority. – April 11, 2026