KJ maintains loyalty to Umno, despite criticism from party leadership

KUALA LUMPUR: Khairy Jamaluddin has pledged his loyalty to Umno and maintained he would not leave the party despite dissatisfaction among some members over his conduct in Parliament on Monday.
The former Umno Youth chief came under heavy criticism, particularly from Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa, after he remained in the Dewan Rakyat when other Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs staged a walkout in protest over the appointment of the new Speaker.
Taking to Twitter earlier today, Annuar accused Khairy of being a "yes man" for Pakatan Harapan (PH).
However, when asked if he was planning to leave the party, Khairy said: "Of course not. I am loyal to my party (Umno)."
When pressed further for comment, Khairy said he did not wish to speak on party matters in public.
"I can choose to do so but I won't do that," he said.
Khairy was one of among only three Umno MPs to remain seated in the dewan when everyone else left, the other two being Datuk Seri Anifah Aman and Datuk Rozman Isli.
Khairy had previously explained that his decision to remain was because he felt it was the right thing to do in respect to the swearing-in ceremony of the speaker, former Court of Appeal judge Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof.
He added that the opposition should instead voice their protest and dissatisfaction when the debate starts tomorrow.
In his tweet, Annuar had said: "Someone asked us to voice our protest through debate. Good, but what debate is not allowed at all? Just sit down and say yes? Control macho?"
"So (apparently) a credible opposition is one who acts alone, when there is a pre-council meeting you are absent, don't attend discussion with other MPs, when the government does something wrong you just keep quiet, and when your friends stand up you just kept quiet.
"The credible one is the one who follow PH!" he said cynically.