Bersatu members can join Najib’s solidarity rally, says Wanita chief

 

Wanita Bersatu chief Mas Ermieyati Samsudin is confident party leaders will attend the Jan 6 rally.

PETALING JAYA: 

Bersatu will not prevent its members from taking part in a PAS-led rally in support of Najib Razak on Jan 6, said its Wanita chief, Mas Ermieyati Samsudin.

Mas Ermieyati said the party leadership is open to anyone joining the solidarity rally for the former prime minister, who is imprisoned after being convicted of corruption.

PAS’s rally at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya is being held on the same day the Court of Appeal hears Najib’s application regarding a purported supplementary decree placing him under house arrest.

“Bersatu leaders have not issued any specific order prohibiting members from participating in the rally,” Mas Ermieyati told FMT.

“I am confident that there will be Bersatu leaders attending the rally, and I myself do not rule out the possibility of joining to show solidarity.

“If the supplementary decree truly exists, it must be upheld and implemented by the prime minister and the government in line with our country’s legal process.”

Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi praised PAS for organising the rally and said the party would be “very grateful” if the event attracted a large crowd.

“Hopefully, Malaysians, including other political parties like PKR, DAP and Bersatu, will also join in to show solidarity,” he said.

“Even though Najib is the former Umno president, this is not an issue that only affects Umno. This is about honouring the institution of the Malay rulers and justice.”

In a memorandum yesterday, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan urged party members to attend the rally and send a “clear signal to the government” about the importance of upholding the rule of law.

On Feb 2 this year, the Federal Territories Pardons Board, chaired by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, announced that Najib’s prison sentence in his SRC International case had been halved from 12 years to six, and his fine reduced from RM210 million to RM50 million.

Najib is currently serving his sentence at Kajang prison.

The Court of Appeal will on Jan 6 hear his application for leave to adduce fresh evidence in his appeal to serve the remainder of his jail term under house arrest, which he claims was issued in a supplementary decree to the Feb 2 announcement.

Najib previously said the FTPB did not announce the terms of the supplementary decree, and that the government was in contempt for not complying with it.

He wants the court to compel the government to execute the supplementary decree, if it exists, by placing him under house arrest. - FMT