Editor’s Note: The police has advised the public not to participate in the “Solidarity with Najib” rally scheduled to take place at the Palace of Justice today (Jan 6) as the much-awaited event has not received permission from the owner of the venue.
Putrajaya police chief ACP Aidi Sham Mohamed has warned that PDRM will take strict action against individuals participating in the rally as it violates existing laws.
PAS is playing a political game with its decision to go ahead with today’s rally (Jan 6) after UMNO backed out at the last minute.
According to PAS strategists, the gathering is not only to support Datuk Seri Najib Razak in his bid for house arrest but also to defend the powers and privileges of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (YDPA) on matters pertaining to pardoning criminals.
By bringing in the palace into the arena, the Islamist party has turned the narrative into one that is sensitive: who dares to challenge the position of the Agong?
It is a clever but devious move: on the one hand, it gives the impression that only PAS is the champion of Malay royalty and on the other, it puts UMNO in a bad light because it has abandoned the “struggle” to get Najib out of jail and serve his time under house arrest.
It appears that UMNO has been out-witted in this game of one-upmanship. What started out as a call for solidarity with Najib has suddenly morphed into a rally for PAS to strengthen its position in its relentless drive to become the dominant political power in the country.
By championing the rights of the king, the Islamist party is also portraying itself as the torchbearer and battler for Malay rights.
The message PAS is sending out is also meant for the other minority ethnic groups: keep your distance, do not touch on sensitive issues or you will be in deep trouble.
‘Authorities walking on tight tope’
With PAS, every issue is seen through the lens of race and religion. Even an innocuous matter like Christmas celebration has been blown out of proportion to make it look like a violation of Islamic principles.
If PAS makes good on its threat to proceed with the rally, how will the authorities respond? This will be a tricky issue.
They would be walking on a tight rope: they must not be seen as harsh in their reaction or it would give PAS ammunition to attack the government and gain political capital out of the incident.
The march would most probably proceed peacefully. PAS would emerge the sole winner and UMNO would be relegated to the background and rue the day it had mooted the rally.
If PAS scores a major victory on the ground of the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya – getting Najib out of prison – the next bigger battle it is eyeing is none other than the 16th General Election (GE16).
And how would the man in Kajang Prison react to this latest development? Would he shake his head in despondency at the treachery of UMNO? Would he switch his colour from blue to green and embrace PAS as his saviour?
In politics, there are no permanent enemies or friends. If today’s rally is good for the political rejuvenation of Najib, then the table turns – PAS is his best friend and UMNO his enemy from within.
If Bossku is eventually freed of all criminal charges and is back – this time in the green saddle – UMNO would be in his crosshairs. He would go after all those who betrayed him. Politics is also all about vengeance.
A simple case to hear Najib’s appeal in court has been manipulated and distorted for self-serving interest. Seen in the glaring light of reality, today’s assembly is a hotchpotch of politics, race and religion which has always been the trademark of Malaysian governance. – Jan 6, 2025
Phlip Rodrigues is a retired journalist.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main image credit: Utusan Malaysia; Akmal Saleh/Facebook
