Umno supreme council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi is the latest leader from the party to censure Amanah over its call for a rejection of the application to pardon former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.
Puad said Amanah’s actions do not inspire confidence that the current cooperation between BN and Pakatan Harapan at the federal level can last.
“Amanah is only worthy of being political allies, but not comrades in our struggle.
“...It is difficult to be allied with Amanah. We can only be allies. Allies that cannot guarantee the unity government can be maintained. Allies turning on their allies,” Puad (above) said in a statement today.
Amanah communications director Khalid Samad earlier released a statement from his party pleading with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Pardons Board to reject the application for a royal pardon freeing Najib.
Najib is currently serving a 12-year jail sentence for his conviction over the SRC International corruption case.
The Umno supreme council has since decided unanimously to submit an application to the Agong to pardon Najib.
In his statement today, Puad said Khalid’s statement about rejecting Najib’s pardon should be taken as Amanah’s official stand, as Amanah president Mohamad Sabu had not come out to deny it.
Not only that, he pointed out that Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub also urged Najib’s supporters to be open about what decision the Pardons Board makes with regard to Najib.
‘Being disrespectful’
“Umno doesn’t have a problem. Umno obeys the legal process. We didn’t even make any noise when the Pardons Board did not discuss Najib’s case two days ago (in their meeting).
“Umno made its request in an orderly manner. The problem lies with Amanah for urging the Agong to reject Najib’s pardon. Umno is only supporting (for a pardon).
“Hence, it is Amanah that is not being orderly. Amanah is being disrespectful to the Agong’s discretion. Amanah is clearly questioning the Agong’s wisdom by making such demands,” Puad said.
Puad also referred to Amanah as PAN (Parti Amanah Negara) in his statement, saying the party is not worthy of being called Amanah, which is Malay for trustworthy, reliable, or honest.
Amanah’s name was a point of contention when the party first splintered from PAS back in late 2015.
PAS refused to refer to the then-new party as Amanah, but called it PAN instead, despite Amanah’s preferred branding.
Aside from Puad, Kelantan Umno has said it will consider severing ties with its Amanah counterpart if Khalid does not withdraw his statement.
Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi also urged all quarters to stop making inappropriate comments on the party’s bid to seek a pardon for Najib.
“Let’s leave the matter to the Agong as he has the prerogative.
“I do not welcome views from any organisations, what more from friendly political parties making inappropriate comments,” he said. - Mkini
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