Prop up Ismail until Najib’s case ends, says Chin Tong

 

Ismail Sabri Yaakob signing a political pact with Pakatan Harapan in September under which the opposition agreed not to bring down his government. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s government must be supported until former prime minister Najib Razak’s corruption case comes to a conclusion, says DAP strategist Liew Chin Tong.

Pakatan Harapan should maintain its political pact with Ismail’s government, as there would be a snap general election the moment the pact collapses – “a dream come true” for what he called Umno’s “troika”, comprising Najib, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan.

“If the troika win a majority, the two senior leaders will walk free from jail,” he said in an article posted on Sunday.

Liew said that Ismail was only “50% Umno”, being close to Muhyiddin Yassin’s Bersatu and the Perikatan Nasional coalition, Umno’s rival to gain Malay voter support.

Liew Chin Tong.

“The greatest threat to Ismail Sabri’s premiership is from the Umno core leadership, and not any other political players,” Liew said.

He called for a compromise to be worked out between Pakatan Harapan, Perikatan Nasional and those Umno leaders who are not aligned with Najib and Zahid.

“This deal is needed to carry the Ismail Sabri government, whether in minority or majority, until the end of Najib’s Federal Court judgement and the conclusion of Zahid’s cases. The nation needs closure before going for a general election,” he said.

Najib has appealed against his conviction on various charges of corruption and money laundering, while Zahid is on trial for alleged criminal breach of trust.

Liew said there has been an “intense campaign” by Umno’s core leadership to pressure Ismail into dissolving Parliament “as soon as possible” after Barisan Nasional’s convincing victory in the Melaka state elections on Nov 20, and a judgement by the Court of Appeal on Najib’s case.

The Court of Appeal upheld Najib’s conviction and sentence in the RM42 million SRC International corruption case. He was sentenced in July last year to 12 years’ jail and fined RM210 million. A stay of execution was granted while he appeals to the Federal Court.

Liew said the only way for the two leaders to avoid jail time was to ensure Umno won the next general election, with one of them or Mohamad Hasan as prime minister.

The two leaders had caused the collapse of two governments and would have no qualms in doing it again, even if it is ostensibly led by an Umno prime minister, Liew said. - FMT