Ahead of Zahid's 'large-scale cleansing' in Umno, Khairy says no surprise if he's chopped like others

Umno's Khairy Jamaluddin says he would not be surprised if he is among those to be sacked from the party in a repeat of the action against several veteran leaders who went against Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, as the party president announced a "large-scale cleansing" to rid the party of "saboteurs".

Khairy also questioned the process of acting against party members, citing the case of Pasir Salak Umno chief Tajuddin Abdul Rahman who was suspended after speaking out against Zahid's leadership.

"If it's about discipline, the process should go through the disciplinary board, but the Supreme Council has already been making many decisions unilaterally," Khairy was quoted as saying by Utusan Malaysia.

"So I'm not surprised if I'm not consulted and if they raise my issue and that of others," he said, adding that he had yet to receive any call to attend a disciplinary board hearing.

Khairy was transferred out of his Rembau parliamentary seat in the November election, with Zahid's deputy Mohamad Hasan named as candidate in his place – ensuring the former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar a place in the Dewan Rakyat.

The move was seen as Zahid's plan to sideline Khairy, who is one of his strongest critics.

While campaigning for the Sungai Buloh seat, Khairy also openly declared his intention to contest the Umno presidency, adding that the party had lost its way and should be "fixed".

He was among several senior Umno leaders who slammed Zahid's move to back PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister in the aftermath of the election which resulted in a hung parliament.

Yesterday, Zahid renewed a pledge he made at the recent Umno general assembly to carry out "large-scale cleansing", targeting those whom he said had sabotaged the party and "shot themselves in the foot".

"Those who haven't felt the heat yet, insha Allah, they will tomorrow night," he told reporters yesterday ahead of an Umno Supreme Council meeting tonight.

However, he refused to say whether the action would involve Khairy, adding that it was part of a "strategy".

"So I have to 'embargo' this piece of information until it is time to do so."