A PKR leader chided Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin as ‘Champagne Charlie' attempting to portray himself as a reformist in his speech at the movement general assembly on Wednesday.

Penang PKR Youth leader Yusmadi Yusoff slammed Khairy for what he described as an attempt to capitalise the current political scenario by calling on Umno leaders and members to change their political mindset from one of Malay dominance to Malay leadership.

NONE "Khairy is merely giving an impression that he was for reforms in the party and government.

"But he never really explained how Umno should effect the reform.

"He was merely trying to become a Champagne Charlie in a party by giving heroic reform speech," Yusmadi, the Balik Pulau parliamentarian told Malaysiakini today.

Given to the current public mood demanding reforms and changes in style of governance, especially in the dominant Umno, the PKR lawmaker suggested that Khairy was merely seizing the chance on a big stage to promote himself.

He said that Khairy, the Rembau parliamentarian, was never involved in any reform movement or public outcry throughout in his political career.

Upgrade standard of living paramount

"The only thing he has done was to hold a protest before the American embassy under police protection," said Yusmadi.

hishamuddin rais yusmadi yusoff baljit singh suaram forum 110509 07 Moreover, Yusmadi stressed that the Umno youth chief had never rose from the grassroots to possibly comprehend the undercurrent sentiments required to carry out any sort of reforms.

He said that upgrading the living standards of the marginalised communities such as rural Malays, Indians and Orang Asli should become the major attribute to any reform movement in the country.

Moreover all reforms, he said, should begain at grassroots level not from roof top.

"Can Khairy assure us that his so-called reform outcry will include these attributes?" he said.

The PKR parliamentarian said that Umno was too entrenched into the ‘Malay dominance' myth at all levels that would resist any such reforms.

"I am convinced that Umno can never reform," he stressed.

The PKR lawmaker suggested that Khairy could have taken a leaf out of a book titled: The Choice: Global Domination or Global Leadership, written by Zbigniew Brzezinski, former national security advisor for ex-American president Jimmy Carter.

Selling an idea

Yusmadi said in the book authored in the aftermath of Sept 11 terrorist attack on America, Brzezinski has suggested that the American government change its global domination policy ala pax- americana to that of global leadership.

"Khairy was perhaps trying to sell Brzezinski's idea to Umno youth members," he said.

On Pakatan Rakyat's defeat in Bagan Pinang , he said it was a much needed ‘kick in the butt' for the coalition to put its act together to show to the people it was a government with a difference.

He said although Pakatan governments in Penang, Selangor and Kedah have not performed as badly as portrayed by the mainstream media, nonetheless the administration should show they were different from Barisan Nasional.

He said Pakatan states should rethink and re-strategise their policies and approach to ensure that the people, especially the marginalised minorities, were not left out from the mainstream political and socio-economic development.

He said for instance Kampung Buah Pala fiasco, Kampung Melayu Tanjung Tokong heritage issue, Tanjung Bunga high density projects and other sought after mega projects in Penang cannot be handled at the expense of public interests.

"Pakatan governments have social and political obligations to perform differently than BN for the betterment of the people.

"In the end, the public including the marginalised minority groups decide their fates.

"Every vote counts in our first-past-the-pole electoral system," cautioned the Balik Pulau MP.