You apologised in Sarawak for power: Umno MP fires back at DAP

• UPDATED 9.18AM | Added clarification from Lim Guan Eng about Tampin MP Isam’s statement.

PARLIAMENT | An Umno lawmaker has hit back at DAP for dismissing former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s apology over the 1MDB scandal.

Mohd Isam Mohd Isa (BN-Tampin) also cited DAP’s move to seek forgiveness from Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg after the last general election.

“Seeking forgiveness is part of Malay-Muslim culture. Whether it’s accepted or not is up to the individual, but it’s a noble act,” he said in Parliament today.

In a jab at DAP, he added: “You yourselves had to rush to Sarawak to apologise when seeking power.”

Last Monday, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke brushed aside Najib’s apology and appeared to dismiss the possibility that the former prime minister would be eligible for house arrest.

Loke further said Najib’s apology did not change the fact that a crime had occurred.

On DAP’s apology to Abang Johari, Loke travelled to Sarawak a few days after the 2022 general election, when a prime minister still had not been chosen, and paid a courtesy visit to the premier’s residence in Kuching.

Abang Johari’s coalition, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), initially stated its support for Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister.

Loke then apologised to Abang Johari for any statement by DAP leaders which offended the premier and Sarawakians in the past.

It was understood that his statement referred to a 2019 comment by then-DAP supremo Lim Guan Eng who claimed Sarawak would go bankrupt if GPS continued to rule.

Harbouring hatred towards ‘Bossku’

Meanwhile, Isam also dismissed speculation that linked the house arrest announcement in the recent budget speech to Najib, describing such allegations as “malicious and illogical”.

“Whether Bossku (Najib) gets home detention or not is a matter for later consideration. He still needs to go through the application process like anyone else.

“If approved, he gets it. If rejected, he doesn’t. There’s no guarantee,” he said.

The MP concluded with a sharp rebuke of critics, urging them to acknowledge Najib’s past contributions despite their personal feelings.

“Despite how much hatred you may harbour towards Bossku, don’t treat him as if he never contributed to the people and nation,” he said.

Isam also expressed his gratitude towards Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for welcoming Najib’s apology.

“There is no need to amplify this issue as it will not influence the justice system as the court will only act on presented evidence,” he added.

Remember you called Zahid at 3.38am?

Isam also chided Lim for allegedly claiming Umno ministers were not helpful with assisting flood victims in his constituency of Bagan, Penang.

“Even when (Lim was) in the opposition, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi answered Lim’s call at 3.38am. I hope after this, Lim won’t cry for help anymore,” he said.

He was referring to Zahid’s revelation of an early morning call from the then-Penang chief minister, requesting help with flooding in 2017.

Isam also defended the performance of Umno ministers in the federal government, dismissing Lim’s criticisms as being completely off the mark.

However, Isam appeared to be referring to a misreported statement by the DAP leader. Lim has since issued a clarification on the matter and Free Malaysia Today regrets the error.

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