KUALA LUMPUR, January 12 — Former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin expressed surprise and appreciation after receiving a public endorsement from DAP’s Ong Kian Ming, who said he would campaign for Khairy at the next general election and is open to serving in a Cabinet led by him after GE16.
Responding to Ong’s birthday tribute on Instagram, Khairy said genuine cross-party friendships are rare, describing their bond as one that predates their political paths and has endured through personal milestones and political storms, before ending his message with a forward-looking call: “We share a vision for the nation. Let’s get it done, brother.”
Earlier, Ong, a former Bangi MP who has since returned to academia, praised Khairy as a close friend and brother in politics, recalling their collaboration across party lines during their time as MPs, including on legislative reforms and the Covid-19 vaccination drive under Operation Surge Capacity.
Ong said he would take leave from work to publicly support Khairy regardless of party affiliation, adding that should Khairy become prime minister, he would willingly offer himself for Cabinet service if deemed suitable, underscoring a rare show of bipartisan solidarity in Malaysia’s political landscape.
