Many Umno leaders at pro-Najib rally, but more from PAS

Summary

• Several Umno leaders turned up for the pro-Najib rally today despite the party cancelling the gathering.

• However, even more PAS leaders were sighted at the rally.

Although Umno cancelled its plan to rally in support of its former president Najib Abdul Razak, it did not stop several party leaders from showing up at the Palace of Justice this morning.

But what attracted attention was PAS’ leading role at the rally.

Among the Umno leaders who attended were Subang Umno chief Armanda Azha Abu Hanifah, Umno Veterans secretary Mustapha Yaakub, Pahang Umno information chief Fadzli Mohamad Kamal, Alor Setar Umno chief Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah, and Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Md Yunos.

Armanda said she took the initiative to attend as a sign of support for the former prime minister.

Umno members had nothing to fear for going to the ground to hear the decision on the purported royal addendum for Najib's house arrest, she said.

“I am here today as an individual, as Najib's friend, to hear for myself the decision on whether the addendum exists or not,” she said.

Backing down due to royal decree

On Jan 3, Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki issued a statement saying that his party had cancelled the rally.

He cited the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar’s decree and Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain’s warning not to attend the rally as reasons behind the decision.

Yesterday, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi warned that party members who took part in the rally would be doing so at their own risk.

Malaysiakini has contacted Asyraf over the presence of Umno leaders at the rally.

‘We are not disobeying the party’

Mustapha clarified that the presence of Umno leaders, including himself, at the rally did not mean they were disobeying the party’s orders.

On the other hand, he said they were there for Najib out of love and support.

“When we are here, it does not mean we are disobeying the party’s instructions, but as support for Najib to receive justice,” he said.

Besides that, Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh was present at the hearing for Najib’s appeal for leave to commence judicial review to compel the home minister and the government to enforce the alleged decree by the previous Agong.

According to reports, Akmal did not gather with supporters and instead opted to enter the courtroom and follow the proceedings closely.

Najib had filed for a judicial review to compel the government to reveal the existence of a purported royal addendum allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence at home and to carry it out.

Today, the Court of Appeal ruled in Najib’s favour, ordering the matter to be reverted to the Kuala Lumpur High Court for a hearing on the merits of the judicial review.

PAS out in numbers

At the same time, PAS leadership came out in strong force today at the rally, with many of the Islamist party's leaders expressing support for Najib.

Apart from PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan, who was present as a lawyer to observe the proceedings, other PAS members include PAS vice-presidents Idris Ahmad and Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden, and Arau MP Shahidan Kassim.

Other party members who were present include PAS women's chief Nuridah Mohd Salleh, Rantau Panjang MP Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff, Tumpat MP Mumtaz Md Nawi, and Kepala Batas MP Siti Mastura Muhammad.

Yesterday, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man criticised Umno’s decision to cancel the rally, claiming that the Malay-centric party was afraid of DAP.

KINIGUIDE | Six takeaways on Najib's house arrest bid

Opposition pans Anwar for hiding royal addendum, urges him to resign

Royal addendum for Najib's house arrest not sent to Prison Dept: Saifuddin

Najib's Facebook: Today we take one step forward

Umno calls on Agong to grant Najib full pardon

PAS Youth to stage protest over attempts to 'hide' Najib addendum