The country's youngest political stalwart Khairy Jamaluddin will always be fair game for the critics because of his family connections, said Umno senator Wan Farid Wan Salleh.

Khairy, a 31-year-old Oxford graduate, is the son-in-law of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and is the current Umno Youth deputy chief.

According to Wan Farid, who is widely described as Khairy's confidant, the latter's ascension in the Umno Youth hierarchy without contest has also become fodder for his detractors.

However, the 45-year-old senator has no doubts about the fledgling politician's abilities.

"Khairy has proven himself to be a leader through his actions," he stressed during a recent interview with Malaysiakini .

Wan Farid, who is the political secretary to the Internal Security Ministry, also defended the Abdullah administration's policies.

On freedom of expression, he noted that the Sept 26 'Walk for Justice' - which saw some 2,000 lawyers taking to the streets calling for judicial reforms - proved that the government does not curtail dissent.

"We are not a police state, even by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's standards," said the politician, who like Khairy, rose up the ranks rapidly after Abdullah took over in 2003.

Wan Farid has also come under intense criticism, especially from political bloggers, over numerous issues.

Malaysia Today websmaster Raja Petra Kamaruddin has routinely accused the Kuala Terengganu Umno division chief of mismanaging the state funds for his own purposes, through his alleged close links with prominent businessman Patrick Lim.

Raja Petra also accused Wan Farid as being one of two Umno men who act as gatekeepers to the prime minister, vetting applications for government projects.

When quizzed on this, the senator dismissed the allegations as being baseless.

Below are excerpts from the hour-long interview.

Malaysiakini: You are said to be closely linked to the first family, the prime minister and his son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin. Can you describe your relationship with Khairy. What do you think of his leadership and his future.

Wan Farid: Khairy is my colleague when I was an exco of Umno Youth. So we were together in the executive committee, that's how we got to know each other. Later, he joined the office of the (then) Deputy Prime Minister (Abdullah) at a later stage.

My relationship with Khairy has always been professional I have heard and read a lot of things about me and Khairy and even on the latest issue, the Batu Buruk (riot) incident (in Terengganu).

(PAS Youth chief) Salahuddin Ayub was in a way hinting that I would not have interfered if I had not gotten permission from Khairy.

I don't know how to respond to this. It gives the impression that I cannot think for myself at all. Whatever that I do, I have to get the permission from Khairy..

But if you check the records before I left the Umno Youth exco (in 2004), I was given the honour to give a speech at the Umno Youth annual general meeting and I did say (in the speech) to Khairy that he has these three years to prove himself as a leader.

You remember the incident when his name was mentioned in in the assembly so many times and I told him to forget about the booing incident, but to prove himself through his actions.

(There was jeering from the Umno delegates when Khairy was announced as the uncontested winner during the party election in 2004 for the Youth deputy chief post).

So three years have passed, and he has done well. A lot of allegations have been levelled against him. He can't respond to all the allegations. Life has to move on and I think he has proven himself. He has done well.

Why is he a favourite target?

I believe that it is difficult to live in such a situation and he'll always be an easy target, being the son-in-law of the prime minister.

One must not forget the post of Umno Youth deputy chief is not an appointed post. It is an elected one. He was not appointed, he was elected (in the absence of contenders). This we must not forget. People say he won uncontested, but that is the process of democracy. He was there on the basis of a democratic process but since he won uncontested, he has become an easy target.

I am confident that even if there was a contest in 2004, Khairy would have won handsomely. There's no doubt about that.

People have described Umno Youth's powers as being too focussed on Khairy and that you are part of his inner circle.

Like I said Khairy is an easy target because of his links to the party president. And I don't speak to him on a day to day basis.

I didn't even meet him when his son was born. I just visited his wife (Nori) but then, even that people talk

So what can I do? Sometimes facts are not the same as the actual scenario. But in politics, it's all about perception.

Like RPK (Raja Petra Kamaruddin) always talks about Khairy, I don't know what landed me in RPK's radar. But I know that many things mentioned by RPK (in Malaysia Today ) are inaccurate.

Like what he said about each Umno division chief receiving RM3 million last year. I am a division chief and I didn't hear anything of that sort.

But the prime minister did announce that each division would receive RM3 million.

I know whether I received or not because I am a division chief. I have not received it. And if I have not received it, I am confident that the other 190 divisions have not either.

I would know because I am a division chief! For sure, never at any time I received RM3 million from the government or Umno. Never. But people say that. So what else can I say.

RPK also makes strong statements like 'I am willing to go to court, I am willing to make a statutory declaration' (laughs). I know that it (the allegation he made) is not true.

Do know Raja Petra personally?

I don't know him.

He said he used to do business in Terengganu...

I was a boy (then). After finishing school, I went abroad to study.

People say Khairy wields too much power and there is a centralisation of power...

That is not correct. I know for a fact that in several meetings held at the Prime Minister's Department, many of Khairy's opinions did not receive support from the rest. During the staff meeting, many of his ideas were modified.

It is a team effort. To say that he is so influential, he can order ministers to do this and that, I don't even know how to accept that, because it is not true. But people like to make assumptions.

All this while, people have been saying that the fourth floor has all the power.

Ya lah (laughs). I know.

This was mentioned in ceramah by people who used to hold positions in the government.

There was one minister during (Adolf) Hitler's time, called (Joel) Goebel. Goebel was then the Minister of Propaganda during the Nazi regime. Goebel used to say that even with things that are not true, if you repeat it 10 times over, people would believe it as being true.

For example, RPK said when PM (Abdullah) was in Melbourne, there was a meeting between the IGP (Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan) and a political secretary was present.

I checked with my friends and the people who went to Melbourne (with Abdullah). There was no political secretary there and I'm a political secretary.

As the Kuala Terengganu Umno division chief and a prospective candidate for the state menteri besar post in future, what is your opinion about the Monsoon Cup? Some have called the annual event held in Pulau Duyong as a waste of funds.

(The cup, which made its debut in Malaysia in 2005, is part of the international competitive sailing circuit)

The Monsoon Cup gives us the opportunity to introduce Malaysia to the international sporting arena. I was made to understand that the Ministry of Youth and Sports will create an academy for water sports in Pulau Duyung, which is complimentary to the development of the island.

When the complex is completed, it would involve the people of Terengganu. It will not succeed in the short term, but if we work hard at it, it would appeal to the locals.

We do not look at the local economy only but also the development of the sport. There are several sports in which Malaysia has high standards, maybe badminton, bowling and squash, but for us to be good in an international sport, we must fight with those who are of world standards, we cannot fight with regional standards.

It is said that the projects in Pulau Duyong only benefit outsiders and not the locals. Umno has been accused of opening the gates to outsiders.

I don't understand such criticisms. During my visits there (Pulau Duyong), I saw many local contractors involved in the construction work. During the launch of low-cost flat units, the PM was met by local contractors who thanked him for bringing development to Pulau Duyong.

During a ceramah in Terengganu, Mahathir once said that 'Patrick Badawi' is ruling Terengganu. (The former premier was mocking the close links between businessman Patrick Lim and the prime minister)

I don't understand (the point of criticism). Is it related to contractors or he ruling the state?

Mahathir was referring to the businessman, Patrick Lim.

I read Patrick's Lim saying in a local magazine that he is in good terms with (Mahathir's son) Datuk Mokhzani. Well, if he is on such good terms with Mokhzani, why isn't he called Patrick Mahathir as well?

We are speaking on the basis of facts. The facts are clear. The facts can be verified. Like the Arab proverb which goes 'honey will always taste sweet, even if it cannot be tasted by one who has a sickish tongue.'

Why do you think Mahathir launched an attack on the government?

Before we speak of Tun Dr Mahathir, I pray that he recovers quickly after two operations in three weeks. I read from (his daughter) Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir's blog that he is recovering well.

I don't really know why Mahathir decided to criticise this administration, Abdullah's administration.

But the fact is that he has managed to voice his opinion and whatever was said received coverage whether in Malaysiakini or so forth. It shows that this country can still receive criticisms and that democracy is still alive.

Lawyers can line up outside the Palace of Justice to hand over a memorandum, without being arrested, charged or blocked.

It shows that there is freedom to voice opinions. Not just Mahathir, everyone can.

Mahathir had said that Malaysia is now a police state.

I don't want to elaborate on this, it is clear (we are more free) than some of our Asean neighbours where there is a clear effort to censor the internet.

All the information about Malaysia can be obtained from blogs. When the system is disturbed, then it becomes a real police state. As long as we practice open skies, I am sure that we are not a police state.

The opposition have the freedom to produce their own newspapers. PAS with Harakah , DAP with their Rocket , PKR with Suara Keadilan .

The opposition can win the elections. There is no one stopping them. PAS can form their own government in Kelantan.

I don't think we can say that we are a police state. It's not just me, but the majority of the people feel the same way. If it were otherwise, Malaysiakini would have long been closed down.

Part 1

Wan Farid to PAS: I don't dignify rubbish

Q&A: I can offer an alibi

Part 2

Wan Farid - T'gganu MB in the making?

Watch the seven-minute video here