KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 -- Khairy Jamaluddin still hopes to become Malaysia's prime minister one day but stressed that he is no longer obsessed with holding the top post anymore.

Khairy, a three-time Cabinet minister and former Umno youth chief, said becoming Malaysia's prime minister has always been his "lifelong ambition" and that he used to consider not fulfilling that dream would make him a failure in life.

Staying out of active politics for three years, however, has changed his perspective.

"It has been a lifetime ambition for me to be in a position of leadership in politics and being the prime minister is the best position, simply because you can do the most and help the most.

"I always felt that I would not be a success in life if...