Where’s the moral compass of Malay-Muslim parties, says Mujahid

 The Amanah deputy president pans Umno and PAS for celebrating the pardon, pointing out that Najib Razak remains convicted of corruption.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong has decided to allow former prime minister Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his six-year jail sentence in the SRC International case at home provided he pays his RM50 million fine. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Amanah deputy president Mujahid Yusof Rawa has questioned the moral compass of Umno and PAS following their reaction to former prime minister Najib Razak’s conditional pardon.

The former religious affairs minister said he respected the king’s decision to grant Najib the conditional pardon, but found the way Umno and PAS celebrated the decision as a victory of sorts “very concerning”.

“Where is our dignity when being convicted of corruption is no longer an embarrassment but is celebrated … when we celebrate someone convicted by the courts?

“What’s even more concerning is Umno raising funds from the public to help this convict pay his RM50 million fine. This isn’t a fundraiser for the poor or those affected by disasters. This is to help a convicted former prime minister,” he said in a statement.

Mujahid said Umno and PAS must differentiate between respecting the king’s decision and celebrating a leader whose conviction remains on record.

He said losing the moral bravery to take a firm stance against corruption would render Umno and PAS incapable of defending the dignity of the Malays and Muslims.

“What has happened to the moral compass of our Malay people? It’s time the Malays make an important decision for the sake of their dignity.

“Don’t allow Malay dignity to be represented by those who normalise crime, otherwise our future generations will consider corruption as heroics for the Malay people,” he said.

Umno and PAS had welcomed Najib’s conditional pardon, with the former launching a fund to help its former president settle his RM50 million fine to allow him to serve his remaining jail term under house arrest.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi also expressed hope the development will boost Barisan Nasional’s momentum in the upcoming Melaka election.

PAS said it was grateful for Najib’s pardon as it believed he could contribute to the country even while he remains under house arrest.

Fellow Perikatan Nasional component Wawasan said it was grateful the decision puts to an end the polemic surrounding Najib’s pardon, while another PN member, Pejuang, called for clarity on the mechanism and conditions for inmates to be granted house arrests.  - FMT