Khairy Jamaluddin's decision to join the Umno race for president has taken many by surprise – including those who considered him an ally and would have rallied behind him had he made his intention known at the outset.

But before today, Khairy had only indicated that he would be contesting for the post of vice-president.

Without a clear leader, this led to a mad scramble by forces aligned against Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to convince Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah to run for the presidency.

The latter finally relented, announcing his entry yesterday.

Those same operatives were left fuming when Khairy announced his last-minute bid for the presidency, with some who spoke to Malaysiakini questioning his motives of only joining the race after Tengku Razaleigh's announcement.

Khairy himself said on his Facebook page that it was a tough decision, and until the last few days, had still been fixed on contesting for one of the three vice-president posts on offer.

"However, after pondering the future and survival of Umno in the current situation, I decided to contest for president, because I want party members to have choices on the party's direction.

"I have much respect for Tengku Razaleigh, and had even met him a few days before to encourage him to contest (for president) in the spirit of an open election.

"I also respect Zahid. In Umno, he is like a brother to me, who had always helped and advised me," he said.

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Khairy also noted that he cannot match Tengku Razaleigh and Zahid in terms of experience.

"But I want the delegates to be given another choice that represents the generational transition in Umno.

"A choice that is grounded in the principle that the party can be rebuilt based on today's mould without abandoning Umno's founding fundamentals," he said.

Khairy, who will be turning 43 this year, acknowledged that some may consider him as too young to become party president.

"But we are in an extraordinary time that requires extraordinary solutions," he said.

Khairy also pledged that he will support whoever who is elected president, and stressed that the Umno election this time should be conducted in a spirit of brotherhood.