DAP man floats full pardon for Najib as part of 'political reset'

A DAP man has floated the once-unthinkable idea of a full pardon for former premier Najib Abdul Razak, arguing that such a measure could be part of a broader “reset” aimed at discouraging court charges against political rivals. 

Former Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming recalled that in May 2023, while speaking as a guest on the “Keluar Sekejap” podcast, he had declared that awarding Najib a full pardon would constitute a “red line” for DAP. 

“More than two years on, especially after the DNAA (dismissal not amounting to an acquittal) for Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Sept 4, 2023, I am less sure of that ‘red line’,” Ong said in a Facebook post today.

He added that his thoughts on the matter had been “influenced” by a “grand amnesty” proposal put forth by “Keluar Sekejap” co-host Khairy Jamaluddin in an August 2023 episode.

Such a proposal, Ong said, would include not just a full pardon for Najib, “perhaps after the conclusion of the ongoing 1MDB case,” but also the discontinuation of cases involving DAP national adviser Lim Guan Eng and Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin.

The proposal would also extend to the dropping of the government’s ongoing appeal in Muda MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman’s case, as well as the “attempts to go after” the late Daim Zainuddin’s assets, Ong said.

“This would make room for what (Khairy) terms a ‘political reset’ so that we can stop the process of going after our political rivals using the instruments of the state once one side is in power. 

“In my naïve and idealistic thinking, I am hoping that this may be part of the process for greater political maturity that is much needed for this country,” Ong added.

Citing the Christmas spirit, Ong said: “May we forgive, but not necessarily forget, in the hope of the larger goal of reconciliation, so that we may slowly but surely make Malaysia a better country for us and those who will come after us.”

On Sunday, Zahid reportedly said that Umno was hoping that Najib, a former party president, would be accorded a royal pardon.

Zahid said that as a close friend, he continues to pray for Najib to receive clemency at an appropriate time, but stressed that the decision rests entirely with His Majesty.

Yesterday, the Kuala Lumpur High Court dismissed Najib’s house arrest bid, with judge Alice Loke ruling that the previous Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s royal decree on the matter was invalid under the law.

Loke found that the addendum order bypassed constitutional requirements for the monarch to consult the Pardons Board before issuing clemency.

‘No need to add fuel to fire’

Commenting on reactions to the court’s decision, Ong today said there is no reason to “celebrate” or “rub salt into wounds” over the judgment, highlighting that Najib has served over three years of his jail sentence since 2022.

“(Najib’s) health has been a concern that was repeatedly raised by members of his family… It is not easy for any 72-year-old to serve time in prison, more so if he is a former prime minister and a member of the Malaysian aristocracy.

“I would feel burdened and sad if I were any of Najib’s children or grandchildren, thinking about how their father and grandfather (is) sitting alone in Kajang Prison while most other people are enjoying their year-end break and celebrating the holidays with their family and friends,” Ong added.

Without specifying the target of his admonishments, Ong stressed that the nation is “already divided enough” over racial and religious politicking as well as split views over Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s recent cabinet reshuffle.

“There is no need to add further ‘fuel to the fire’ by making remarks and issuing statements that are likely to inflame such sentiments among various communities,” he said, warning that such statements appear “tone deaf” and ignorant of the Malay community’s feelings. 

Some Malays, Ong said, may not necessarily support Najib’s actions, but have no wish to see a former prime minister “humiliated”.

“(They) definitely do not want to see political leaders of a party which most of them already do not like, ‘celebrating’ the court’s decision publicly on social media,” he highlighted. 

Such “celebratory” actions, he added, not only weaken the ability of the unity government to function effectively for the remainder of its term over the next two years, but also threaten the likelihood of an electoral agreement between Pakatan Harapan and BN for the upcoming general election.

“Who knows, this may be one of the actions which may lead BN to seek closer cooperation with Perikatan Nasional in the run-up to the next election, to the detriment of Harapan and its supporters,” Ong said.

Backlash from foes and friends

Tensions had earlier flared over Ong’s fellow DAP colleague Yeo Bee Yin’s one-liner comment applauding the court’s decision denying Najib’s house arrest bid.

In response to Yeo’s remark, Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki suggested that it may be time for the Malay nationalist party to reassess its relationships with other government allies.

Similarly, Zahid, who is also the BN chairperson, had issued a terse and cryptic message on social media - “Jangan menyimbah minyak pada api yang sedang marak (don’t pour fuel on a raging fire).”

Yeo’s remark also courted backlash from certain quarters in PKR, with its Lembah Jaya assemblyperson Syed Ahmad Syed Abdul Rahman, better known as Altimet, describing it as “uncouth and uncalled for”.

DAP disciplinary chief Tony Pua, however, had asserted that both he and his party take pride in having played a pivotal role in kleptocrat Najib’s downfall and continued incarceration. 

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COMMENT | Celebrate justice being upheld, not crooked legacies