UMNO would not take Muda’s stance on Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s pardon appeal to heart as the youth-based party is not even an official federal government member and had instead begged to become Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) component party, said Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi.
Calling Muda a hypocrite, the UMNO Supreme Council member further questioned the party’s credibility as its president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman remains a member of parliament despite being charged with corruption.
“Unlike Najib who had resigned as UMNO president when Barisan Nasional (BN) was ousted from power (in 2018), Syed Saddiq had retained his position and even ran in the 15th general election (GE15),” said Puad, who is also the Speaker of the Johor State Legislative Assembly.
“Najib did not contest in GE15 whereas Syed Saddiq had contested in Muar. Believe me, if he is convicted later, Syed Saddiq will remain [as Muda president] and run for the 16th General Election. Don’t be a hypocrite at such a young age,” he said.
Puad was responding to Muda’s statement yesterday (May 1) saying that the Pardons Board should reject the application to grant Najib a pardon, adding that it is the party’s official stand to object to any manouevres to save any kleptocratic individual.
Describing the former prime minister as a “kleptocrat” who made the country suffer, the party’s central executive committee further noted that freeing him this early in his sentence will send the wrong message to Malaysians.
Muda said pardoning Najib as he begins his sentence will send the message that anyone with influence over the powerful is above the law and this violates the priciples of the Rukun Negara. – May 2, 2023
Main pic credit: Facebook/ DrPuad Zarkashi
