'PAS playing Squid Game', says Guan Eng in rejecting invite to Najib rally

Summary

• DAP chairperson Lim Guan Eng criticises PAS' political stunt that disregards constitutional due process and undermines the rule of law.

• Lim accuses PAS of being hypocritical and opportunistic, pointing out their inconsistent stance on Najib's 1MDB scandal and their efforts to provoke religious sentiments against DAP Ministers Nga Kor Ming and Hannah Yeoh.

• Lim highlights PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari's past actions, including bullying a DAP by-election candidate.

DAP chairperson Lim Guan Eng has rejected PAS' "invitation" to attend the solidarity rally for incarcerated Najib Abdul Razak on Jan 6, condemning it as a politically dangerous stunt.

He accused PAS of engaging in a “political version of Squid Game” with "its political grand design to eliminate their opponents to gain power at all costs, to the detriment of the Federal Constitution, the economic livelihood of the rakyat, and national unity".

Lim pointed out that even Bersatu, PAS' ally in Perikatan Nasional, has expressed disappointment with PAS for joining forces with Umno in the rally.

"From demanding that Najib be arrested and charged relating to the 1MDB RM52 billion scandal in 2018 to now making a U-turn without any regard for due process of the law as set out in the Federal Constitution, PAS has shown itself to be dishonest in principles and unscrupulous in tactics," he said in a statement today.

Dismissing the "invitation," Lim described it as "a ridiculous political stunt bereft of principles, turning their back on the constitutional due process of the rule of law, hypocritical, and opportunistic".

"I reject PAS' invite to me to attend the Jan 6 rally when PAS is holding a protest rally today to bully two DAP ministers, Nga Kor Ming and Hannah Yeoh, over their false claims that Muslims feel threatened by Nga’s Christmas celebration and over Yeoh’s personal religious beliefs as a Christian," he said.

Lim added that all DAP leaders stand in solidarity with Nga and Yeoh against PAS' "dangerous attempt" to provoke religious sentiments and stir up disharmony, which contravenes the constitutional right to freedom of religion.

"I will also not participate in this rally when the Attorney-General's Chambers have outlined in detail the constitutional due process that must be complied with in the granting of a pardon to complete the exercise of the power at the absolute discretion of the king," he further stated.

Lim, a former finance minister, cited his experience with the financial damage caused by the RM52 billion 1MDB scandal.

"I witnessed the great financial loss suffered by the nation from this RM52 billion 1MDB financial scandal," he said.

‘Stop pretending’

The Bagan MP also criticised PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, urging him to stop pretending to be a "pillar of consistency in relation to justice".

"No one would forget his attempt to bully our female candidate for the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election Pang Sock Tao by questioning her SPM results just because she came from a Chinese school.

"When Pang disclosed her SPM results as a straight-As student, Fadhli did not respond in kind and, until today, has not disclosed his own SPM results. Pang then convincingly won the by-election by a larger majority in percentage terms."

Umno is scheduled to hold a solidarity rally for Najib on Jan 6, coinciding with a hearing regarding an alleged royal addendum that could potentially allow Najib to serve the remainder of his prison term under house arrest.

Subsequently, PAS leadership had urged its members to attend the rally as well.

After the joint rally raised eyebrows, some Umno leaders clarified that it had nothing to do with politics and that the party had never communicated with PAS about the event.

Palace: Prisoners' clemency bids must go through Pardons Board

COMMENT | 'Unity' govt more disunited than united

Will Umno team up with other opposition in future, asks DAP MP

COMMENT | PKR, coalition partners should challenge Anwar over Najib

Pro-Najib rally: PAS 'invites' Guan Eng, calls Nur Jazlan 'toyol'

‘Thousands of MIC members’ to join Najib rally, Saravanan says