JOHOR POLLS | Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki has urged political parties to exercise restraint in campaigning, criticising attempts to link electoral outcomes to the possible release of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.
He said it was misleading to suggest Najib’s fate could be decided by any election result, stressing that his release can only be decided through the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s constitutional pardon powers under Article 42(1) of the Federal Constitution.
Any other narrative, he said, misrepresents the legal process.
Asyraf accused Pakatan Harapan of pushing this narrative and urged its leaders to campaign more responsibly.
“I am genuinely puzzled that Harapan’s campaign, from its highest leaders down to the grassroots, seems to have no other material to use in the Johor state election campaign.
“Everywhere, they keep trading Najib’s name, attempting to mislead the public into believing that if BN wins the Johor election, he will be freed.
“Don’t tell me the people of Johor can be fooled in such a manner. What does an election have to do with the release? The public is now more informed and cannot be easily deceived, unlike in 2018 with all sorts of empty promises of the moon and the stars.
“The only way Najib can be released is, as in the case of Anwar Ibrahim previously, through the pardon powers of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, as clearly stated under Article 42(1) of the Federal Constitution. There is no other route,” Asyraf said in a Facebook post yesterday evening.
He added that, as part of the federal government, Harapan should base its campaign on facts.
“It should present realistic proposals to the people, including how it intends to compete with BN’s Maju Johor 2030 agenda. This is an era of ideas and facts, not one of sentiment and falsehoods,” he said, referring to the coalition’s state election pledges.
However, Asyraf appeared to overlook comments by Najib’s son and Langkawi Umno chief, Nazifuddin Najib, who said a strong BN victory in Johor would signal continued public support for Najib and hopes of a royal pardon.
Free Malaysia Today reported that Nazifuddin made the remarks when asked about claims that Najib would be freed if BN performed strongly in the Johor election.
“If BN wins by a large margin, it will send a strong signal - not only that the people of Johor support BN and its leadership, but also that they still cherish ‘Bossku’ and hope he can once again be with the rakyat.
“If anyone wants to resign over it, they should resign now instead of waiting until after we win. That’s my advice,” he reportedly said.
Nazifuddin, however, said the state election is not about choosing a prime minister, but ensuring a strong BN victory.
He also said there would be nothing improper about Najib receiving a royal pardon and being released if BN secured victory.
“And if we do, what’s wrong with Bossku receiving a pardon and being released? There’s nothing wrong with that. It is the prerogative of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” he was quoted as saying.
Nga vows to resign
In an interview with Oriental Daily last month, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming warned that a landslide Umno victory in Johor could lead to Najib’s early release.
If that were to happen, he said he would be the first to resign from the cabinet and warned that DAP might also quit the federal government.
In response, BN deputy chairperson Mohamad Hasan told Nga to resign immediately.
Mohamad, who is also Umno deputy president, accused Nga of arrogantly linking the state election to Najib’s possible release.
“I do not like to attack individuals. But if he keeps challenging us and says he wants to resign, then go ahead and resign immediately.
“In fact, we’ve been waiting for him to do so,” the New Straits Times reported Mohamad as saying. - Mkini
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