On the contrary, Mas Ermieyati said that the Sungei Besar Umno division chief is a very supportive and understanding person.
“That is the Jamal Yunos I know. So, he is not a liability.
“I saw his role in the Sungai Besar by-election (in June 2016) and how he had moved the party machinery. It was very effective.
“He is a division leader who is very supportive and very understanding,” she said in a press conference here today after the opening of the World Islamic Tourism Conference.
Mas Ermieyati was asked on whether Jamal was a liability, with all the antics and stunts he has pulled, some of which were considered indecent and rude, and had even earned a rebuke from the Sultan of Selangor.
The latest in his series of stunts had him and his supporters carrying life-sized standees of PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail on board the new MRT Sungei Buloh-Kajang line.
They were also carrying cardboard signs with the message: “Tq PM for providing this MRT service from Kajang to Sungai Buloh. It is now easier for Kak Wan (Wan Azizah) to visit her husband in Sungai Buloh.”
Opposition leader Wan Azizah is the Selangor state assemblywoman for Kajang, while her husband Anwar Ibrahim is de facto leader of both PKR and the Pakatan Harapan coalition.
As to Jamal’s aspirations to contest the Umno Youth chief position, Mas Ermieyati said anyone who was qualified can contest the post, but stressed that was not the priority now.
The priority, she said, was to strengthen the party machinery in preparation for the next general election (GE14).
“Jamal Yunos wants to contest the post. In my opinion, anyone can contest. If you are qualified, you can contest, but that is not a priority right now,” she said.
On July 9, Jamal had aired his intention to lead Umno Youth as current chief Khairy Jamaluddin had expressed his desire in wanting to relinquish the position.
Jamal, who is also known as the leader of the Red Shirts group, said the move was among the options open to him if he was not nominated to contest in any parliamentary or state seat in GE14.
He has so far received support for his move from Umno Supreme Council member and Tourism and Culture Minister Mohamed Nazri Aziz.
After sultan’s rebuke, Jamal vows never to bring hearses to protests