“I want to reflect on this before I think about what to do next. The truth is, I’m exhausted,” he said in an Instagram post.

“I haven’t really had time to rest since I was asked to manage the pandemic. It’s been a tough two years for me steering the country out of Covid-19.”

Still, Khairy said, it was a privilege that he was tasked with serving the nation and that he was glad Malaysia recovered from the pandemic better than many other countries.

The former Umno Youth chief said elections serve as a way to measure a politician’s popularity and performance.

“I think I tried my best but I wasn’t good enough. A loss is a loss, no matter how close you came or how many people express disappointment at your loss.”

Khairy, who lost to Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) R Ramanan in Sungai Buloh, said “tremendous uncertainty” remained as Malaysia faces its first hung Parliament. No coalition managed to win enough seats to form the government on its own.

“I hope the people who have been elected act with wisdom and compassion. The country needs stability and leadership more than ever. I wish you all the very best,” he said.