Khairy Jamaluddin, son-in-law of outgoing PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and MP for Rembau, has conceded that public perception of him is so bad that he has crossed the point of no return.

He told Malaysiakini in a 90-minute interview last week that only time can rehabilitate his image.

"I'm a realist; I'll have to wait for that," he said. "If I win this contest (Umno Youth chief), then maybe the resuscitation may happen quicker because I have a platform. But if I don't, I'll just have to wait until somebody knocks on my door and says, ‘Hey, you're still around'."