Bersatu leader disappointed with PAS involvement in Najib rally

Summary

• Federal Territories Perikatan Nasional state secretary is disappointed with the opposition's involvement in a rally for Najib Abdul Razak.

• Mahathir Mohd Rais calls the involvement "political opportunism".

A Bersatu leader has expressed disappointment over coalition member party PAS rallying in support of disgraced former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.

In a statement, Federal Territories Perikatan Nasional state secretary Mahathir Mohd Rais described the opposition's involvement in the rally as "disheartening" and reeking of "political opportunism".

He condemned both the government and the opposition for organising the event.

"This rally is emblematic of a larger issue within Malaysian politics - leaders on both sides appear more focused on preserving their influence than addressing the rakyat’s concerns.

"The rakyat are left as mere spectators in a political theatre where the powerful protect each other, regardless of which side they belong to," he said.

Umno and PAS agreed to stand together in a solidarity rally for Najib on Jan 6 at the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya.

The rally coincides with a hearing concerning an alleged royal addendum that could potentially allow Najib to serve the remainder of his prison term under house arrest.

In an internal memo titled “Call for a Solidarity Gathering with Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak Demanding Justice”, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan called on party leaders to mobilise members for the event.

The rally will be the first time since 2022 that PAS and Umno - once allies under the Muafakat Nasional banner - will be teaming up.

‘Malaysia deserves better leaders’

However, Mahathir said the event shows how neither the government nor the opposition are interested in upholding justice.

"The SRC International case was supposed to be a turning point - a symbol of hope for a fair and impartial justice system. Instead, it has become a joke of Malaysia’s systemic failures.

"Both the government and the opposition have failed to rise above political gamesmanship. The government’s reduction of Najib’s sentence undermines the judiciary and the principles of accountability, while the opposition’s rally exposes its hypocrisy and lack of consistency," he said.

He went on to urge the youth to rise above the issue to lead the country away from abuse of power and corruption.

Malaysians deserve better leaders who emphasise the country over personal power or agendas, he added.

Najib was previously sentenced to 12 years imprisonment and fined RM210 million after being found guilty of corruption in the RM42 million SRC International case.

Following a meeting on Jan 29, the Pardons Board decided to reduce his sentence to six years imprisonment and a RM50 million fine.

However, it has been alleged the board’s chairperson at the time, the then Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, had also made a supplementary order for Najib to serve the remainder of his sentence at home.

Najib has filed for a judicial review to compel the government to reveal whether the order exists, and if so, to carry out the order.

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