KJ's redefinition of leadership

At the same park, I took these two pictures. Just minutes after I snapped that photo of the tree aglow (left), I turned back — and the golden light was gone. It reminded me how leadership, like sunlight, is never permanent. But its warmth, when it lands, is unforgettable. What a perfect metaphor for leadership and legacy: fleeting moments of light, quiet impact, and how quickly the spotlight can shift or disappear altogether.
I HAD a delightful walk in my neighbourhood park last Saturday morning.
Usually my regular walks are to the beat of the songs of my youth, but recently, I had switched from listening to music to listening to podcasts.
On this particular day, my 'companions' were Khairy Jamaluddin or 'KJ', Datuk Seri Idris Jala and his son Leon Jala, who kept me entertained thoroughly for an hour with their engaging, insightful and enlightening conversations.
When asked about the kind of legacy he hoped to leave behind, KJ didn't mention the ministries that he had led, the policies that he had formulated, or the elections that he had won or lost.
Instead, speaking on Idris and Leon's podcast, 'The Game of Impossible', he gave an answer that I felt was so downplayed, it was downright surprising.
'I just want that when someone Googles me, the word that comes up is 'helpful'.'
Yes, for the average listener listening in the background, it is a sort of answer that can easily slip past you.
But for those of us who have long been following Malaysia's colourful political arena, it was the kind of answer that would probably make you fall out of your chair.
Thankfully for me, I was not seated at the time, nor did I take a stumble during my walk.
The answer, which didn't sound like it came from a typical politician at all, lingered on in my mind.
I paused and slowed down my pace, ruminating on the nuances of his answer and eventually coming to a conclusion that his simple and short answer probably said more about leadership than a full-page broadsheet interview of a self-aspiring politician would.
This was coming from a man who once stood at the height of Malaysian politics – a former Minister of Youth and Sports; Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation; and even Minister of Health.
For KJ, an Oxford educated blue-blood political elite and son-in-law to a former prime minister, one might expect a grand proclamation, something like 'reformer' or 'visionary'.
Instead, he gave us one word – 'helpful'.
That word hits differently in our current political climate, where ego and relentless self-branding often seem like the tools of the trade.
Politicians name bridges and roads after themselves, and chase publicity in the media like oxygen.
Yet here is KJ, a man whose career has seen both high and low, stripping leadership down to its core function by declaring that he aspires to just being useful to others.
In fact, at the start of the podcast, KJ said he became a politician not because of his upbringing, but rather due to his belief that politics was important to the world.
'Politics more than anything else is about trying to organise the society in a way that is fair,' said KJ.
I could not remember KJ being particularly 'fair' during his time in power.
But what had impressed me most was how he led during the Covid-19 crisis as a coordinating minister for the National Covid-19 immunisation programme and later on, as the Minister of Health.
His policies at the time were measured, composed and effective.
Perhaps it's because he's now 'keluar' (out) from the political arena and acting as an independent podcaster and commentator that he can speak with this level of detachment and honesty.
Or perhaps, the extra quality time that he has spent with his children and family these years has changed his perspective on things.
Or even perhaps age and experience have taught him what few leaders admit: that power is fleeting, but impact is permanent.
That being admired is easy, but being remembered kindly is rare.
KJ's wish isn't about being famous. It's about being of service.
That's a striking departure from the usual definitions of legacy that we hear, not only from politicians but also from corporate leaders, influencers, and public figures everywhere.
It echoes something deeper – a hunger for relevance that's rooted in doing, not appearing.
Let's be honest. In Malaysian public life, titles still hold sway.
The Datukship, the Tan Sri-ship, the ceremonial positions – these are still sought-after badges of honour.
We all fall into it sometimes. We want our work to mean something.
'Helpful' isn't a word that gets carved on a monument, but it is a word that people use when you've shown up for them, when you've answered a call, opened a door, or just made their load lighter.
And in the end, isn't that the more honest legacy?
There's something else about that podcast that struck me: the dynamic between Idris, Leon, and KJ.
It wasn't just a talk show – it was a conversation between generations.
Idris, the corporate and public service veteran; Leon, the son and new-generation voice; and KJ, the former golden boy; reflecting on what leadership really meant.
What emerged was not just personal reflection, but a map of how leadership must evolve: less about command, more about connection.
I've spent a lifetime in the media, often seeing the rise and fall of leaders.
Some came in with trumpets, some left with sirens; others just faded quietly.
But the ones I remember best? The ones who called back; who treated junior reporters with respect; who gave more than they took.
They weren't always the smartest in the room, but they were the most helpful.
They made the job, and the journey, easier for others.
And that, to me, is legacy.
But perhaps the real leaders of tomorrow are those who, like KJ, realise that lasting impact doesn't need a spotlight – it just needs a human touch.
Of course, one might ask – has he been helpful enough?
For me, I believe the jury's still out, but at least he's asking the right question and in politics, that's rare.
Perhaps KJ hasn't been 'helpful enough' – not in the way he now values, but the beauty of that statement is that it suggests he's still trying.
It's the humility of a man in progress.
So here's to the 'helpful' ones.
May their legacy grow in the grateful words of those whom they quietly helped along the way. Khairy Jamaluddin KJ leadership podcast

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