WHETHER UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh is a thorn in the flesh for the Madani government or otherwise is as good as anyone’s guess.
What is certain, however, is that he has hit out at DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng who warned that UMNO risks undermining the unity government’s spirit and public confidence by joining hands with PAS in the Jan 6 solidarity rally for incarcerated former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Slated for Jan 6 to coincide with a hearing on a potential royal addendum that could shift Najib’s prison term to house arrest, the rally at the compound of the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya will stand out as the first UMNO-PAS joint effort since 2022.
“The rally is just a (peaceful) solidarity gathering for Najib, unlike the BERSIH (the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections) rally which sparked chaos till cars were overturned,” the Melaka state Rural Development, Agriculture and Food Security Committee chairman rebuked Guan Eng in a Facebook video.
“I also wish to ask Guan Eng who is he to lash out at UMNO. Who are you to instruct UMNO? I promise you that the stronger you criticise UMNO, the more (rally participants) will turn up on Jan 6.”
For more context, Guan Eng who is also the Bagan MP has reportedly cautioned UMNO that any joint programme with opposition PAS – whether solidarity gatherings or demonstrations – risks undermining political stability and casting doubt on UMNO’s position in the government.
He also emphasised that such actions could erode public confidence in UMNO’s sincerity in forming the federal government under the mandate of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in 2022.
Also noteworthy is that Guan Eng further condemned Akmal for questioning Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s royal pardon in 2018 by describing it as a destabilising move that challenges both the PM’s legitimacy and the Agong’s authority in granting clemency.
In fact, the Russia-trained medical doctor’s latest outlash at Guan Eng could be best summed up by staunch Madani government backer Mr.Nazril (@Nazril_Iznil) who penned the following observation on the X platform:
𝗕𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗮𝗸 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗞𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗷𝗮𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗽𝗶 𝗝𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗸𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗡
Ketua Pemuda UMNO, Akmal Saleh dilihat lebih banyak mengkritik Kerajaan Perpaduan berbanding Perikatan Nasional (PN), bahkan pandangannya kini selari dengan kumpulan… pic.twitter.com/OJ6ZxbmL1r
— Mr.Nazril (@Nazril_Iznil) December 31, 2024
UMNO Youth chief Akmal Saleh is seen criticising the unity government more than the Perikatan Nasional (PN) with his views now seen to be in line with the group.
Akmal is also seen not showing respect and loyalty towards his friends and political parties who together form the unity government.
Akmal’s attitude is evidently like “gunting dalam lipatan” (literally, “scissors in a fold”), “api dalam sekam” (literally, “fire in a husk”) and “musuh dalam selimut” (literally, “enemy in a blanket”).
Akmal’s latest statement questioning PMX’s royal pardon process clearly reflects an immature attitude that taints the spirit of cooperation and unity that is being worked out together. – Jan 1, 2025
