Khairy clarifies 'PM-in-waiting' remark on Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has clarified that his description of Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as a 'prime minister-in-waiting' was not an endorsement of Zahid becoming prime minister.

Khairy said his remark was based on his assessment that Zahid had articulated a broader vision for Malaysia, rather than delivering a speech focused solely on party politics.

"I said that it was a speech of a prime minister-in-waiting. Of course, the superficial comments from critics were, 'Ah, this is just to flatter him'.

"No, no. That was not the point. The point I was making is that he has given thought to what he wants to do when he becomes prime minister," he said in a recent podcast.

Khairy said he had listened to numerous Umno presidential policy speeches dating back to the era of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and was familiar with Zahid's speeches as Umno president.

He said Zahid's latest address stood out because it outlined what he viewed as a vision for the country.

"I think this is the first time that he has outlined a vision for the country. It was not just a political speech, it was a speech about the country, a vision for the country," he said.

Khairy pointed to Zahid's reference to the "Blue Malaysia Agenda" and eight strategic initiatives aimed at preparing Malaysia for its centenary of independence in 2057.

Among the areas outlined, he said, were science and technology, the future economy, rural socioeconomic transformation and racial inclusiveness, as well as proposals relating to government revenue, including the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

"This is not a speech of just a normal party president. This is a speech of somebody who is auditioning for the post of prime minister," he said.

Khairy said, however, that whether Zahid would eventually become prime minister was a matter for voters to decide.

"Whether he will become prime minister or not is for the voters to determine. But my point is, this was not an ordinary party president speech.

"It was a speech of somebody who has greater ambition, who is saying that, 'I'm ready, this is my vision, this is my vision when I become prime minister later'," he said.

Meanwhile, former Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan, who co-hosted the podcast, said he believed Khairy's wording also contained an element of ambiguity.

Shahril said Khairy's communication style allowed people to interpret the remark differently, including those who supported Zahid.

He said Khairy's underlying message was that Zahid was positioning himself as someone seeking the prime minister's post.

Khairy had previously said Zahid's policy speech at the party's general assembly showed that Umno and Barisan Nasional were ready to form the next government.

The former Umno Youth chief had described Zahid's policy speech as "the speech of a prime minister-in-waiting" after Zahid delivered his presidential policy speech at the 2026 Umno General Assembly.

"This is the speech of a prime minister-in-waiting, and a speech of a government-in-waiting," he said.