Umno supreme council member Norza Zakaria is not at all coy about singing the praises of Youth vice-chief Khairy Jamaluddin - but then, the two are close friends.

In an interview on Monday, Norza defended the ambitious Khairy, 32, who is often labeled the de facto prime minister for the influence he purportedly wields over Abdullah Ahmad Badawi - premier, Umno president and his father-in-law.

Khairy (photo), who graduated from the prestigious Oxford University, burst into politics and, four years ago, was touted as the 'most influential politician'.

At the height of the war of words between ex-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his handpicked successor Abdullah last year, the former had singled out Khairy for criticism - among other allegations - as being the power behind the throne.

Norza, predictably, had a different view of his fellow-politician, whom he described as having proven himself based on merit and quality.

He is not fazed that this cuts across the grain of sentiment among other party colleagues - when Khairy won his party post uncontested in the 2004 election, his victory was greeted with mild boos.

But Norza insisted: "I evaluate people based on merit. I don't look at Khairy from the 'son-in-law' perspective. (My view) is based on merit and what he can do.

"His English is immaculate, his (thought process shows) he has lots of creativity (and) his assumptions about the (grassroots are) very contemporary - these are the things that (make him) beat the rest, whoever you name.

"So out of the few...people that you rely on to become future (leaders), who would you pick? Put aside (the fact) that he is the prime minister's son-in-law - of course, you would pick Khairy."

The hour-long interview was held at Norza's office in the finance ministry in Putrajaya, where he has a day job as political secretary to Second Finance Minister Nor Mohamed Yakcop.

Norza, 41, himself seen as another rising star in the party, is also Umno Youth Federal Territories chief.

Isolated figure

An accountant by training, Norza said he became close with Khairy when the latter was a special officer to Abdullah - then the deputy premier - and had just been admitted to Umno Youth as an exco member.

Khairy was assigned to work in the Youth wing's education bureau helmed by Norza at the time.

"He was not the son-in-law (yet), no one wanted to be with him because he was new (but) I was with him, taking him around (with me)," recalled Norza.

"It was at the height of Reformasi (anti-government campaign triggered by the sacking of deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, now de facto PKR leader, photo ), we were booed here and there when we went into universities, but we worked very well together."

It was during this time that Norza said he discovered Khairy's talents.

"I noticed this guy is the future, he has the Generation X quality... After a while, even though I was his boss, he was better than me."

Norza - who was slated to contest as Youth vice-chief - decided to make way for Khairy, who had "proven himself along the way".

"People said (my decision) was because Khairy gave me this and that, but while I was with Khairy (all along), not a single person said anything like that."

'Respect earned'

Norza is now throwing his support behind Khairy for the Umno Youth top post, should incumbent Hishammuddin Hussein decide to contest a vice-president's post in the main body.

Party elections, which were scheduled to be held at the end of this year, have been postponed until after the next general election, widely expected to be called by early next year.

"At the end of the day, after doing all this hard work and going to all the (party) divisions (where he) faced criticism - and it's not easy to impress people - Khairy has managed to do it.

"He has earned respect from the grassroots, so I see no problem in his leading Umno Youth if Hisham goes for vice-president."

Asked if there has been any discussion in the Youth wing about Hishammuddin's decision, Norza replied: "You have to ask Hisham... but I think he should go (for higher post)."

Tomorrow: Meritocracy in Umno

Read the first part of the interview here .

Watch the three-minute video here.