STAUNCH UMNO grassroots members have apparently poked fun at the party’s central leadership for having the audacity to claim credit over yesterday’s (Jan 6) perceived big win for their “Bossku” a.k.a. former party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
This came about at current president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi showered praises on all levels of UMNO members for the resilient in their struggle to uphold justice for the incarcerated sixth premier in light of his yesterday’s (Jan 6) favourable appellant court outcome.
“UMNO seeks the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim’s compassion, wisdom and justice to grant a full pardon to Najib in line with His Majesty’s prerogative powers under Articles 41(1) and (2) of the Federal Constitution,” UMNO Online cited Zahid as saying in a Facebook post.
To re-cap, 72 -year-old former 10-term Pekan MP’s may just be a step away ‘to convert’ his remainder stay in the Kajang Prison to house arrest after the Court of Appeal allowed his appeal for leave to commence judicial review to compel the Home Minister and the government of the day to enforce the alleged decree by the previous Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Prior to yesterday (Jan 6), Zahid who is also the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) had been keeping mum since UMNO declared late Friday night (Jan 3) that it has pulled out from the “Solidarity with Najib” rally which coincided with yesterday’s (Jan 6) court hearing.
Brickbats hurled at the Bagan Datuk MP centred on him discouraging UMNO members from participating in the rally which was ultimately championed by PAS and prompting UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh to defy party order to attend the gathering in his personal capacity.
“All of a sudden, he emerged from nowhere to be a hero when he was dead silent previously,” teased a commenter while another ticked him off for “opening his mouth only after getting cornered” with few others expressed doubt that he is able to gauge sentiments within UMNO’s grassroots.
One commenter also took a potshot at Zahid who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister for not voicing any opposition when Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail described as “only hearsay” the existence of a royal addendum purportedly ordering Najib to serve the rest of his prison sentence under house arrest.
Apart from being jeered at, one commenter even described him as a “Tamil (film) hero who has to be on the look-out for a new teacher after his present teacher (Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) has kantoi (slang to mean caught off-guard)”.
In fact, UMNO grassroots are resolute not to be tricked by him anymore with one commenter observed that party members are “now more openly condemning him”.
Also being snubbed by the party’s grassroots is Federal Territories UMNO information chief Gulam Muszaffar Gulam Mustakim who praised Zahid for “having successfully defended the fate of Najib who is a true friend”.
“Zahid has even risked his political fate by ‘suing’ the government with affidavit of support,” claimed Gulam Muszaffar.
While he was dismissed as a lackey/bootlicker, a commenter clarified that Zahid’s affidavit was invalid given the one which was eventually presented in court was that which Najib’s son Datuk Nizar Najib obtained from the Pahang Palace. – Jan 7, 2025
