Najib's clemency: No need to sulk, get angry over it, DAP leader says as Loke quits

With Transport Minister Anthony Loke walking away from the cabinet following Najib Abdul Razak’s conditional pardon, one DAP leader said there was no point in anyone getting emotional over the clemency accorded to the former premier.

"What matters for a government is (ability to) deliver. There is no point in showing our anger or sulking over this pardon issue.

"It is more important to show what we can deliver. What impact do you (Loke) want to make (from this move), and why do we want to weaken the government?" said Perak DAP vice-chairperson Abdul Aziz Bari during KiniTV’s “Explain Sikit” podcast.

Also present in the talk show was veteran lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdulla.

Aziz (below), a former academic, pointed out that Loke’s resignation could be counterproductive for the Pakatan Harapan-led federal government, given the DAP secretary-general’s strong track record as a minister.

"I see that the power (to grant pardon) has already been exercised in accordance with what is prescribed by the Constitution. There is no issue there.

"So, this political action is a separate matter, in my view, and has nothing to do with it. It is a political action. Perhaps it is something they feel is appropriate or something they believe can address the sentiments of their supporters. I don't know.

"But to me, these are two unrelated matters. There was no need, in my view, for him (Loke) to take such action," Aziz stressed.

On Sept 18, the Pardons Board chaired by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar granted Najib a conditional pardon, allowing the former Pekan MP to serve the remainder of his jail sentence under house arrest.

The next day, Loke announced that he would resign from the cabinet over the conditional pardon, while other DAP cabinet members will remain in their posts "to ensure the government's stability".

‘Harapan could've prevented it’

Haniff also criticised DAP and Harapan for showing their disagreement with Najib’s clemency, when they supposedly could have prevented it.

Citing an example, the lawyer stated that the ruling coalition had the power to at least table a motion in the Dewan Rakyat to limit the king's pardon prerogative.

He echoed Aziz’s sentiments on Loke’s resignation, asking what Najib’s conditional pardon had to do with the Seremban MP’s position in the cabinet.

Haniff (above) said the Agong’s prerogative to grant pardons was separate from and above the judicial process, which had already run its course in Najib’s SRC International case.

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While agreeing with Aziz’s view that Loke’s resignation was politically motivated, the veteran lawyer criticised DAP for what he described as an "insincere" response, questioning why only Loke had resigned while its other cabinet members remained in their posts.

He also singled out Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, who had made a pledge in regard to Najib’s clemency in the past.

"The question here is not about whether his resignation was relevant. Loke volunteered to resign himself, and when you volunteer to do so, why only one person? Why not everyone?

"On top of that, Nga was also the one who promised to resign.

"This is important to me. This is not about DAP, MIC or MCA. This is about good governance and mature politics. You made a promise, so you fulfil it," Haniff said.

Haniff was referring to Nga's remarks in June, where he warned that a landslide Umno victory in the Johor polls could lead to Najib's early release and, if that happens, he would be the first to resign from the cabinet.

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