Khairy should answer TMJ’s lament apart from giving elucidation of his “ confused thinking and insensible expression”

UMNO Youth leader and Minister for Youth and Sports Khairy Jamaluddin accused me of “cultivating narrow minds among Malays, leading to the divide between the majority ethnic group and the ethnic Chinese” (Malay Mail Online/Bernama) when he suggested that together with Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, I should retire from politics, alleging that three of us would “continue to divide the people if they do not do so”.

I know that Khairy is a product of the prestigious Oxford University, but I am surprised that an Oxonian could be guilty of such confused thinking and insensible expression that nobody could make head or tail of what he was trying to convey when he charged me of “cultivating narrow minds among Malays leading to the divide between the majority ethnic group and the ethnic Chinese”.

Is Khairy saying that that Malays are narrow-minded, that this Malay narrow-mindedness caused the “divide” between the Malays and the Chinese, and finally, that he blamed me for causing the Malays to be narrow-minded?

I am giving a chance for Khairy to explain what he meant by this charge.

While waiting for elucidation from Khairy, I wondered why I was named in the trio of politicians who should retire from politics.

Is it because we are the trio of old men in politics?

This cannot be, for we have nonagenarian Dr. Chen Man Hin, adviser of DAP and founder DAP Chairman, who is older than Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, who turned 92 today. Dr. Chen will be 94 in four months’ time.

Has Khairy forgotten octogenarian Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah who turned eighty in April this year?

At present, at 76, I am the only septuagenarian but I will be joined by Anwar and the Pas President, Datuk Seri Hadi Awang in the next few months when Anwar and Hadi turn 70 years of age.

But why mention Anwar while omitting Hadi?

Is it because Hadi has become a close pal and foremost apologist for the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, expected to defend Najib in all the financial scandals and abuses of power in the Najib administration, whether the international multi-billion dollar 1MDB money-laundering scandal or the latest assault on the Federal Constitution with the appointment of an illegal and unconstitutional Chief Justice after August 3?

Khairy is well known for his boast that he wanted to be Prime Minister of Malaysia before he is 40 years ago, but he has missed the boat.

Past 41, Khairy seems to be stuck in the most junior ministry in the Cabinet.

Khairy was not the youngest Minister for Youth and Sports when he was first appointed in 2013, and he now joins his predecessors who helmed the Ministry when they have ceased to be youths, defined as below 40 years old.

Shouldn’t Khairy be asking Najib to establish the convention that the Minister of Youth should not be a person who is past 40 years old, and asked for a youth below 40 years old to be appointed as the new Minister for Youth and Sports while he is moved to another portfolio?

I will deal with the reasons which Khairy has given as to why Mahathir, Anwar and I should retire from politics, although they are misconceived, but betrayed a selective frame of mind which caused Tunku Makhota Johor, Tunku Ismail to ask “What’s happening to a country I used to respect? A country that I was once proud to call my home”, lamenting

“A country where individuals want to be politicians for their personal interest and no longer believe in serving the people and our institution.

“Where being in denial and ignorant has become the way of life.

“Where the deceiver gains more grounds and power.

“Where the truth is being ignored and lies being acknowledged.

“Honour, loyalty and being genuine no longer exist.”

Khairy should answer Tunku Makhota Johore’s lament apart from giving elucidation to my query, before I respond to the reasons he had given.