Working with different parties in the unity government compelled DAP to make compromises, which former Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming believes are at a level that its grassroots could still tolerate.
However, speaking in a podcast aired this afternoon, the DAP member warned that there are “lines that should not be crossed” by the government.
One line, according to Ong, includes releasing jailed former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak before the end of his prison sentence.
"In my opinion, the red line for DAP grassroots, and perhaps DAP leaders too, is the freedom of Bossku," he said, referring to Najib's moniker.
Ong was answering a question posed by former Umno leaders Shahril Suffian Hamdan and Khairy Jamaluddin, who co-hosts a podcast called “Keluar Sekejap” aired on YouTube.
The duo had asked Ong for his take on compromises DAP and Pakatan Harapan have made in the government so far.
This includes seeing politicians being appointed to lead government agencies, something that the coalition had fought against when they were in the opposition.
According to Ong, DAP might still be able to swallow such compromises, like the appointment of politicians into public agencies, but not to the extent of seeing Najib getting a free get-out-of-jail card.
"...that one I think is something that is quite serious. If the party grassroots or leadership sees that this unity government is going above and beyond to expedite Bossku’s pardon, I think it will cause dissatisfaction to flare up.
"Issues like appointing (politicians) to government agencies are something that still can be accepted.
"I think some DAP leaders, like Charles Santiago have also been appointed as chairperson of the National Water Service Commission, whom I believe have the capability to do the job.
“But when members of your own party get such a position, it is hard to criticise others for doing the same thing."
Najib, who is a former Pekan MP, is serving 12 years in jail for corruption and abuse of power in the RM42 million SRC International case.
In addition, he was also slapped with an RM210 million fine.
Following this, the Umno supreme council unanimously decided to appeal to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to pardon Najib.
The council will also present to the monarch a memorandum signed by all 191 Umno division leaders.
The plan to seek pardon for Najib had been criticised by some Harapan leaders and led to tensions between Harapan and BN. - Mkini
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