Often portrayed as a progressive figure in Umno and government, Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin today refused to weigh in on his colleague’s endorsement for police to shoot down suspected criminals before guilt is proven in court.

Asked if this was the government’s stand, he said: “I am not going to comment, this is not my brief.”

Pressed further to state his stand as a cabinet minister, he said: “I am not going to answer the question.”

Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was recorded as saying that police should shoot suspected criminals before their guilt can be proven in court.

This attracted brickbats from rights groups who question if the government is abandoning the rule of law to support extra-judicial killing.

Meanwhile, Khairy, who is defending his Umno Youth chief’s post, said that he is “not perturbed” by the alleged smear campaign against him by his opponents.

NONEHe added that he will cooperate in any probe against him, following opponent Syed Rosli Syed Harman Jamalullail (left in photo)lodging a report against him with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the Umno disciplinary committee alleging abuse of power and contravention of the party constitution.

“It is sad that the people who are running against me resort to this when they could have used the campaign period to lay out their alternative vision (for Umno Youth).

“Instead they are focusing on... unfounded allegations, which speaks volumes of the inadequacy of their own campaign,” he told reporters in Sepang.

Syed Rosli had complained to the two organisations that Khairy had used a ministry function at Kampung Pandan on Oct 2 to campaign for the Umno polls.

The Umno Youth polls will take place on Saturday, with first-term chief Khairy tipped as a front-runner.

He is also going against former Umno strongman Sanusi Junid’s son Akhramsyah Muamar Ubaidiah Sanusi.

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