Umno Youth head Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar can expect to feel some heat during the forthcoming party elections, given what has been written in a book about his father-in-law Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s tenure as prime minister.

NONE In saying this, however, PKR’s Seri Setia assemblyperson Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad noted that Khairy ( left ) will be able to face up to the challenge in defending his post .

Nik Nazmi was among those who have contributed essays to ‘Awakening: The Abdullah Badawi Years in Malaysia’, which is yet to be officially launched.

“I believe (Khairy) will be able to face it in the Umno elections. It will be unfortunate if he is overshadowed by Pak Lah. I am confident that (the book will not be) a big issue,” Nik Nazmi said in an interview with Sinar Harian .  

NONE Nik Nazmi (right) , who is also the Selangor assembly deputy speaker, said he does not see the book as being critical of Abdullah's administration because the bigger aim was to carry out an objective assessment of Abdullah’s tenure.

In his essay, he said, he had written that the administration was more open in some respects under Abdullah who, however, was not steadfast in leading the change.

“This was the people’s evaluation in (the) 2008 (general election). In 2004, BN marked its best (electoral) achievement and in 2008, its worst-ever performance,” he said.

“For me this was rather unfortunate. If Abdullah was serious about change, he could have brought it about. Saying ‘it is difficult to change Umno’ is not a good reason.

“The prime minister is (also) the president of Umno and the PM (here) has a lot of power, compared with leaders of other countries. If they are serious and there is political will, it can be done.”