Khairy Jamaluddin is going to resign as UMNO deputy Youth chief

“What else does Anwar Ibrahim want?” he queried. “Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s government has reduced the price of petrol as much as 20 percent starting from tonight!”

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s son in law, Khairy Jamaluddin, has challenged Anwar Ibrahim to resign as PKR advisor if he failed to make good his promise to take over the Federal Government on September 16.

Describing Sept 16 as the “biggest propaganda in the history of Malaysia”, Khairy offered to resign if Anwar fails to keep his commitment.

[A few days ago, Anwar says he has the numbers, and even one more to spare].

“If he does become PM on Sept 16, I will resign as UMNO deputy Youth chief!” he exclaimed.

[A reporter next to me remarked: Will he then be asking Anwar the new PM for Pakatan Rakyat’s Youth chief post?]

The UMNO ceramah really, truly, honestly rode on the sodomy II allegations against Anwar. In fact, the entire ceramah’s tone was laced with snide remarks and innuendos about Anwar’s ‘gay’ preferences.

KJ also challenged Anwar (again) to swear upon the life of his generation according to Islam (on the Quran). He was unfazed that his detractors asked “Who are you, KJ, you are not an ulama, you are only the SON-in-LAW”.

“It’s okay if they look down on me. I may not be an ulama, but I am the SON-IN-LAW of an ulama!”.

He added that many ulamas, including Nik Aziz has justified the act of swearing on the Quran to declare one’s innocence.

[By the way, I just received an sms that Najib Tun Razak had just sowrn on the Quran in Guar Perahu that he had never met the murdered Mongolian Altantuya Shariibuu – the season for swearing on the Holy Book is in the air].

“If he truly, truly had not sodomised Saiful Bukhairy, there are three days left… he can go to the Seberang Jaya mosque (we will arrange it)…like a man (jantan)…and swear on his generation (sumpah laknat) that he did not sodomise Saiful”.

KJ himself admitted that Anwar’s refusal to take the “holy oath” has created some doubt in the minds of the fence sitters in Permatang Pauh.

Anwar’s battle cry is: Berani kerana benar (if you are right, there is nothing to fear), lawan tetap lawan (the fight must go on).

“Looks like today he is not very brave..maybe because he is wrong,” quipped KJ.

I arrived at the BN main operations centre about 9pm, when the crowd was just trickling in. Those present had to be invited several times to fill the empty chairs. However, after 30 minutes, the crowd swelled to about 500 and was even spilling into the main road, which delighted the organsiers. But I spotted some PKR supporters around in the midst :). A PKR centre is just next door after all.

I saw Saiful again (sigh). The episode of his controversial act was played again on a big wide screen on the stage.

On the screen, Saiful looked really ‘relaxed’ during the entire session. Either he is a good actor or absolutely free from guilt. I am not surprised that many in Permatang Pauh are beginning to believe the latter.

There were other superstars, too, Ezam Mohd Nor, who promised to expose secrets about Anwar, although he is sounding more and more like a broken record. He continues to disappoint journalists. He repeats that Anwar is a traitor to Islam, the Malay race and the country.

During the three hour ceramah, KJ also hurled several other accusations at Anwar. He claims to have heard the tape recording of Anwar’s phone conversation ‘harassing’ the wife of Hamzah Zainuddin years ago.

Anwar is suing Hamzah for ten million.

“It was an ‘A’ class type of tackling a woman”. Hamzah, of course was present at the ceramah.

What is Ezam whispering to Hamzah over here?

I honestly do not want to bore you with the details but these are KJ’s other accusations against Anwar. A journalist remarked that he was quite convincing:

1. He is an hypocrite of the highest order. His character is questionable. Compare him with Arif Shah (BN P44 candidate): one is serviced centred, the other (Anwar) is greedy for power.

2. About the Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim’s controversial statement proposing that UITM open 10percent of its doors to non-Muslims: KJ said Anwar himself had said years ago that the Bumiputera Policy for UITM stays. “The press cutting is here in my pocket,” he added, although he did not reveal it.

3. BN, a corrupt party? Who was caught for corruption by the Anti Corruption Agency a few days ago? It was two PKR officers from Perak.

4. Penang Kampung Jawa – racial conflict between Malays and Indians years ago when Anwar was the deputy prime minister. Anwar had said during the height of the crisis that “If they (Indians) do not bow to our demands (Malays), we will not hear the temples bells ring again in Malaysia”. (This statement was heard by PKR ex-deputy president and academic Dr Chandra Muzaffar).

5. He will sell Malaysia to the USA. KJ claims that he had heard from ‘reliable sources’ that once Anwar becomes PM, Malaysia will sign the Free Trade Agreement with USA. “This will hurt our farmers and industries”. He will also allow the American navy to set up base in Sabah.

6. Based on the recent PAS Muktamar, the party had rejected Anwar as PM. They are not in Permatang Pauh to campaign for Anwar. “What kind of PAKATAN is this? PAS did not show their dissatisfaction openly because they pity Wan Azizah”.

7. “They call me ‘samseng’ (gangster), but who are gangsters now? PKR beat up journalists. We put up our flags at night, at dawn, they are pulled down. During nomination day, BN leaders were not allowed to meet with their supporters”.

8. Sabah MPs will not be crossing over to PKR. KJ was in a function with several Sabah MPs, and they have assured him there were no defections.

Beware!

UMNO will station 300 supporters to ‘protect’ the BN machinery on polling day, August 26. “We do not want to see again how cruel they are to our supporters,” KJ warned, referring to the Lunas by-election in 2000, when PKR supporters prevented buses suspected of ferrying phantom voters into the constituency.

He ended his speech by asking Ezam Moh Nor several questions:

1. Why can’t Anwar keep his friends? They must know something (referring to several of Anwar’s close friends who have abandoned him and threw their support behind UMNO/BN – Ezam, Dr. Chandra, Nallakurapan (his former tennis partner, among others).

2. There are so many banners, buntings and posters around the area. Where did PKR get the money from? It seems they have spent millions (RM) here. It seems they have signed some deal with their foreign funders.

What do you think? Has he convinced you?