KUALA LUMPUR: Former Rembau member of parliament Khairy Jamaluddin will not return to Umno anytime soon after he was fired from the party he joined 23 years ago.
He said Umno was not his choice at the moment, especially since the party is still being led by Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The former Umno Youth chief said he was disappointed that Umno refused to change even though it had been punished by the people in the last two general elections and won only 26 seats in the 15th General Election (GE15).
"At the moment, maybe not, because I see that Umno doesn't want to change.
"After the alarm bells were sounded in GE14 and GE15 for Umno to wake up, it chose to continue to sleep and dream even though it has only 26 seats left.
"It would be difficult for me to return to Umno. That is why I chose not to appeal (the firing) because I would be appealing to the same people who fired me without a transparent and fair process.
"That is why I don't see Umno as an option for me at the moment," said Khairy in an interview with Berita Harian when asked whether he would return to Umno if he could.
Last Friday, Umno's supreme council, chaired by Zahid, announced the party's decision to sack Khairy and former Tanjung Karang member of parliament and former Selangor Umno Liaison Committee chairman Tan Sri Noh Omar for violating the party constitution during GE15.
Several party members were also suspended from the party for six years, including Sembrong MP Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, former Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan, Tebrau Umno division chief Datuk Maulizan Bujang and Jempol Umno division chief Datuk Seri Mohd Salim Shariff.
It is believed that Khairy's remarks during the GE15 campaign that Umno had lost its way and that he wanted to save it led to his dismissal from the party.
The former health minister had claimed that his dismissal did not follow procedure as he was fired without being given the opportunity to defend himself.
Asked whether his decision on not returning to Umno would change if Zahid stepped down as party president, Khairy said the change Umno needed did not only involve the president.
"It is not only about Zahid. We must see concrete changes. It is not a question of changing the president. We also have to look at the attitude of leaders and their bravery to make big changes in the party.
"All this must happen before not just I, but also voters and the public, feel that Umno is worthy of being given the trust."
Khairy said Umno was currently at its lowest point.
He said he did not hate Umno, but whatever steps he takes next, whether he joins a new party, sets up his own party or takes a hiatus from politics, he will always love Umno.
"Wherever I go, I still love Umno because it is my party.
"I did not leave Umno, I was fired from Umno.
"Wherever I go, my true love is Umno and I still love Umno.
"I still love Umno members and the party's struggles.
"It is just that Umno has fired me, the Umno leadership has fired me.
"I have no choice because I see that Umno's current leadership does not want to change for the better for the sake of the members."