Bossku’s royal addendum win: Is the end nigh for the Madani gov’t?

 

INCARCERATED former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak has once again exposed the fault lines within the Madani coalition.

This time, the fissure comes in the form of a royal addendum that could allow the disgraced 10-term former Pekan MP to serve out his remaining six-year prison sentence under house arrest.

Pending judicial review, yesterday’s (Jan 6) appellant court decision has brought to light a simmering conflict between two of the coalition’s most significant players – DAP and UMNO.

While UMNO’s leadership spearheaded by its president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has gone all-in on securing Najib’s freedom, Pakatan Harapan (PH) component parties especially the DAP is walking a tightrope.

On one hand, they must placate their reformist base who see Najib’s conviction as a cornerstone of accountability. On the other hand, they are locked in a coalition that increasingly feels like a Faustian bargain.

This isn’t just a clash of ideologies – it’s an existential crisis for the Madani government.

Torn in between

Najib’s case has always been a political lightning rod but the royal addendum amplifies its significance.

For UMNO, Najib remains an iconic figure. Securing his freedom would galvanise their grassroots supporters who see his imprisonment as a political vendetta.

Embattled Zahid cannot afford to alienate Najib loyalists. To them, Najib’s house arrest represents vindication, a signal that their party’s influence still holds sway.

But for DAP, this is nothing short of betrayal. Their reformist platform – built on promises of justice and institutional integrity – is at odds with the image of a convicted ex-prime minister (PM) lounging at home.

The longer DAP remains silent, the more it risks being seen as complicit.

Already, murmurs of discontent are growing within its ranks as loyalists and staunch supporters are watching closely, questioning whether DAP is compromising its principles for the sake of political expediency.

The tension doesn’t stop there. PKR led by PMX Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is caught in the middle.

Anwar’s reputation as a reformist leader – already in tatters before this – has sunk even lower. His inability to reconcile the coalition’s divergent agendas risks alienating both his progressive supporters and the Malay base he has worked so hard to court.

Fighting for survival

This internal discord sets the stage for a potential implosion. Najib’s legal victory – a win for UMNO but a slap in the face for reformists – is the kind of polarising issue that could fracture the Madani coalition.

Tatawlah nak cakap apa.
Kesian tengok makcik² ni kena tunggang.

If you shout Bebas Bossku..
Then clearly you dont understand anything.
Takpelah acikkk.. dapat 2-3 rat pon jadiklaaaa. pic.twitter.com/7gKpdqasgS

— JOKER  (@tjerealjoker) January 6, 2025

Over 1,000 of MIC members have gathered at Batu Caves

They held a special prayers for Najib Razak instead of joining the planned rally for solidarity with the former prime minister in Putrajaya pic.twitter.com/kGkhs4xReG

— Elill (@Elill_E) January 6, 2025

How much longer can DAP suppress its discontent? How much further can UMNO push its agenda before the alliance collapses under its contradictions?

The stakes are high. The Opposition is watching closely, ready to capitalise on any signs of weakness.

Perikatan Nasional (PN) has already painted the Madani government as ineffectual, driven by compromise rather than conviction. If Najib’s case becomes the tipping point, it’s not just DAP or UMNO that will suffer – it’s the entire Madani administration.

What makes this even more explosive is the public’s perception. To many, Najib’s release – whether partial or total – represents a regression, a return to the “old Malaysia” where the elite are untouchable. For the Madani government, this is a battle for its soul.

The question is no longer whether Najib’s addendum will be enforced. The real question is whether the Madani government can survive the fallout.

If it cannot, this coalition may go down in history as yet another casualty of political expedience – a government that traded its ideals for power and paid the ultimate price.

Johan Abu Bakar is a Focus Malaysia reader.

The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.

- Focus Malaysia.