KJ asks if he should join DAP, Ong says yes - party needs PM candidate

Former Umno leaders Khairy Jamaluddin and Shahril Hamdan should join DAP, said Ong Kian Ming.

According to the former DAP MP for Bangi, this is because the party needs prime minister candidates.

"Both of you fit the bill," Ong told the duo during a podcast aired on Youtube this afternoon.

The overture was met with surprise and laughter from the hosts.

Ong said this in response to Khairy (above, left) asking him if he and Shahril should join DAP and if yes, why.

The three were discussing local issues on the 'Keluar Sekejap' podcast, including their supposed break from active politics.

During the earlier part of the session, Khairy had announced his intention to retire from politics for good.

The former Rembau MP said this while telling Shahril that his Hari Raya celebration saw many relatives and friends asking about his future plans, whether he will contest the election again and so on.

"I dodged these questions by saying that I have retired.

"I am not going to (come out of retirement)... I am just going to put a full stop (when I retire). There will be no second act, no such thing as Michael Jordan Part 2, none.

"Before this, many have asked me if it is true that I am going to contest in the (upcoming) state elections, and I said I was 80-20. Now, I am at 90-10, with the 90 percent for retirement," he added.

In January, the Umno supreme council made a decision to sack Khairy and another Umno senior leader from the party for allegedly breaching party discipline during the 15th general election.

The council also decided to suspend several other party members, including Shahril for unspecified reasons.

Expand horizon

Ong had also bowed out from politics just before last year's general election to focus on academia.

Asked for advice on what the podcast hosts should do since they're also in the political wilderness, Ong said Shahril should take on different corporate hats and build up his reputation before going back into politics.

For Khairy, the DAP member said it may be good for the former health minister to go for a position at international organisations such as agencies under the United Nations or global think tanks.

"You can get more experience and higher stature, like what several former prime ministers did. Muhyiddin Yassin, Dr Mahathir Mohamed, even Anwar Ibrahim all had the experience of being sacked (by a party) before this.

"Maybe after that, the opportunity for you to come back with more experience, and this is something that I think our voters and citizens will welcome," Ong added.

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