The 'chameleon' will never reach Putrajaya

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin today vowed that his wing will ensure that Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim never realises his dream of taking over the federal government.

The 33-year-old politician also described the 62-year-old former Umno deputy president and deputy prime minister as a 'forked tongue tale teller' and 'political chameleon'.

"Anwar should be mindful of his past deeds, for we surely have not forgotten. Switching to the opposition does not absolve him of his sins. As the pot calling the kettle black, Anwar's past will shadow him no matter where he maneuvers in the political arena.

"He tries to position himself as many things: the voice of the marginalised, a champion of Islam, the Malays and human rights. But is this truly Anwar Ibrahim, or is his political struggle motivated solely by personal ambitions?" he asked.

"Anwar may have succeeded in deceiving some members of the younger generation who never really knew his true nature – a political chameleon who changes colour according to season.

"But Umno and Umno Youth most certainly remember the real Anwar, and we will ensure that this forked-tongue teller of tales will never make it in his quest to Putrajaya," he added.

PKR, all about one man

Addressing some 800 Umno Youth delegates at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur, the Umno Youth chief also dismissed PKR, helmed by Anwar’s wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, as a party devoid of ideology.

Khairy said the party, which was born in the aftermath of Anwar’s sacking from Umno and the government in 1998, was only concerned about the glorification of one man.

"What is the crux of PKR's struggle, or are they like their partners who yearn for power above all else? After all, if it is justice and anti-corruption that they are fighting for, then PKR should look to its own leader.

"Anwar has manipulated a section of the Malaysian populace with rhetoric as though he is clean, pure, a beacon of integrity, while branding Umno leaders as corrupt, voracious and racist," he added.

Meanwhile, Khairy also said Malaysians are now faced with the choice between two political fronts - Barisan Nasional, which has developed the country to its current heights, or Pakatan Rakyat which continues to divide the people.

"It is our responsibility to expose the true colours of the opposition – that they are no true coalition and are not bound by any shared principle.

"What exists is merely a casual relationship, void of any moral principle, genuine affinity or mutual respect. They are a coalition willing to be in cahoots merely to topple BN, dreaming of Putrajaya," he added.

No sincerity in the struggle

Khairy also noted that recent incidents since the 12th general election indicate that there is no sincerity of struggle in the opposition coalition.

"It would not be a stretch for me to contend that DAP holds the reins. PAS steered away from its original core when the Islamic State ceased to be a key party agenda.

"PAS no longer dares to speak up, much less criticise PKR and DAP on numerous matters. PAS is also no longer sensitive to issues that used to be central to their cause, such as the proposal of utilising zakat (tithe) funds for the state administration of Selangor," he added.

According to the Umno Youth chief, this suggests that PAS is willing to sacrifice fundamental principles in its negotiations with DAP, all in the name of politics.

"Should that be the case now, there is no guarantee that PAS would not also sacrifice the country should it come to power," he warned.

"If DAP is most powerful, we should ask: who is DAP, really? Masking its almost mono-racial character with the chimera of a multi-racial platform - when in truth, DAP's priorities are unmistakably racial.

"After 40 years of Lim Kit Siang being a parliamentarian, the opening of one Malay branch was deemed fit to shout about, as though it was an astounding achievement. DAP is multi-racial only in name, for its actual agenda is couched in racist sentiment," he said.

Playing a dangerous game

Unlike BN, Khairy said, the opposition coalition is not grounded by principles – they do not uphold even the constitution.

This, he added, is evident in DAP's relentless attack on the position of the rulers, the Malay language and Islam, whilst its partners PAS and PKR not only watch idly but in fact cast aside basic principles of this nation.

"We must continue to expose the opposition’s dirty tactics. We have never been afraid of them; it is they who actually fear us. They fear the leadership of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

"Without new ideas that benefit the people, they are left with little more than political tactics that instigate trouble and manufacture despair," he said.

"The opposition is worried that the people will have a long memory of the cruelty suffered by the residents of Kampung Buah Pala.

"They fear their yet unfulfilled electoral promises of giving RM1,000 to each child in Selangor offered a place in university and reducing assessment tax by 20 percent, will come back to haunt them," he said.

"In essence, they their lies, trickery and propaganda will finally be revealed to the people," he added.

In view of this, Khairy called on his 'brothers' in Umno Youth to stand united to defeat an opposition bent on playing a dangerous game.

"We will never allow the BN government to be defeated by parties that in fact, undermine each other and possess no sincerity in their struggle.

"The opposition have no qualms in legitimising wrongs and ignoring truths in the greed for power," he said.