Teaming up with PAS could see Umno kicked out of govt - Dr M

Summary

• Dr Mahathir Mohamad claims that Umno could be kicked out of the federal coalition government if it continues to cooperate with PAS.

• The former PM says this is because the DAP opposes the alliance and that Umno needs the DAP.

• He adds that the Agong did not explicitly prohibit the pro-Najib rally earlier today and that Umno could have gone ahead with it.

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today said further cooperation between Umno and PAS could lead to the former being kicked out of the federal coalition government.

Mahathir said this is because the DAP opposes Umno’s cooperation with PAS, not because the Malay nationalist party wanted to hold a rally for its disgraced former president Najib Abdul Razak.

“If it (Umno-PAS cooperation) continues, Umno may be expelled from the Pakatan Harapan government.

“(DAP national chairperson) Lim Guan Eng is still venomous,” Mahathir said in a statement posted on Facebook this evening.

Umno leaders are forced to rely on DAP for support to ensure their security, he added.

He was commenting on a pro-Najib rally held this morning outside the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya.

Umno had cancelled the rally after a statement from Istana Negara and party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi warned members against joining the gathering.

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man criticised this decision, claiming that Umno was afraid of DAP.

‘Palace’s statement an explanation, not prohibition’

Mahathir interpreted the Istana Negara’s statement as an explanation of appeals for clemency.

He further said that Umno could have continued the rally despite the palace’s statement.

“The Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s statement did not prohibit the planned rally.

“His Majesty’s statement only explained how pardons can be given.

“Umno could have continued the rally regarding the addendum,” Mahathir said.

Najib nears house arrest

Najib was jailed for 12 years and fined RM210 million after being found guilty of abuse of power, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering involving RM42 million in the SRC International case.

Following a meeting on Jan 29, 2024, the Pardons Board decided to reduce his sentence to six years imprisonment and slash his fine to RM50 million.

However, there were allegations that the Pardons Board’s chairperson at the time, the then-Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, also made a supplementary order for Najib to serve the rest of his sentence under house arrest.

Najib later filed for a judicial review to compel the government to reveal the royal addendum's existence and carry it out.

Today, the Court of Appeal allowed Najib leave to commence the judicial review and compel the home minister and the government to enforce the decree.

In a split 2-1 decision, the appellate bench ordered the matter be reverted to the Kuala Lumpur High Court for a hearing of the merits of the judicial review.

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