KUALA LUMPUR — Umno will proceed with Monday’s rally in support of jailed former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak outside the Court of Appeal, despite chastisement from DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng over PAS’ participation in the same event.
Umno president and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the rally will continue as announced, adding that Lim’s remarks were his personal opinion.
“His (Lim’s) era is past, so let us trust in the current DAP leadership,” Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, told media today after a ministry event in Putrajaya, Berita Harian reports.
“Don’t disturb your friends (in the unity government),” Zahid added.
Zahid also implied that PAS was not a direct participant in Umno’s rally, but appeared to be holding its own rally for Najib instead.
“You’ll have to ask them (PAS),” he said when asked about PAS’s involvement in Umno’s rally.
Formerly rivals, Umno and DAP became allies for the first time after the 2022 general election.
On Dec 31, Lim at a press conference questioned Umno’s sincerity as a partner in the unity government, asking why it should join an event that PAS was also attending.
Lim, who is Bagan MP, said Umno should know that any joint event with PAS, an opposition party, will raise doubts about Umno’s position in the unity government.
Umno plans to rally on January 6 outside the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya where the Court of Appeal will hear Najib’s application on a purported addendum order for him to serve the remainder of his prison sentence for corruption under house arrest.
PAS has also announced plans for a similar rally to show solidarity with Najib and to demand justice, with party secretary-general issuing a letter to members to “send a clear signal to the Madani government about the supremacy of the constitution and rule of law”.
PAS’ move has led to questions over why it is suddenly showing support for Najib, with Umno Federal Territories information chief Datuk Ghulam Muzaffar Gulam Mustakim calling the opposition party “opportunists” who want to gain political advantage from Najib’s situation.
The High Court previously rejected Najib’s judicial review application for the government to confirm and implement the addendum order, as well as his bid to adduce new evidence supporting the order’s existence. The former prime minister is now taking the matter to the appellate court. – January 2, 2025