“PKR’s Hassan Karim wants the unity government to succeed – that’s all”
By Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy
UMNO supreme council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi (main pic, left) has questioned PKR member and Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim for his double-standards on the question of royal pardon for former prime minister (PM) Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Puad commented that Hassan said that the royal pardon for Najib might negatively affect the image of PM Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the unity government.
But unfortunately, Hassan did not realise his own contradiction when Anwar received the royal pardon in May 2018. If the pardon of Anwar was acceptable, why not the pardon of Najib?
If Najib and the present UMNO leader Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi were not acceptable to Hassan, why support the formation of the unity government in the first place? Is Hassan afraid that Anwar might influence the King in seeking pardon for Najib?
I see no contradiction or double standards of Hassan in expressing concerns about the royal pardon of Najib.
He fears that such a pardon might have adverse effects on the coming state elections. It is just a concern and not that Hassan is against the royal pardon of Najib per se.
UMNO supreme council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi (main pic, left) has questioned PKR member and Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim for his double-standards on the question of royal pardon for former prime minister (PM) Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Puad commented that Hassan said that the royal pardon for Najib might negatively affect the image of PM Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the unity government.
But unfortunately, Hassan did not realise his own contradiction when Anwar received the royal pardon in May 2018. If the pardon of Anwar was acceptable, why not the pardon of Najib?
If Najib and the present UMNO leader Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi were not acceptable to Hassan, why support the formation of the unity government in the first place? Is Hassan afraid that Anwar might influence the King in seeking pardon for Najib?
I see no contradiction or double standards of Hassan in expressing concerns about the royal pardon of Najib.
He fears that such a pardon might have adverse effects on the coming state elections. It is just a concern and not that Hassan is against the royal pardon of Najib per se.
Hassan Karim (right)
Anwar’s might be part of the Pardons Board but the ultimate authority is the King. Anwar might have role or might not in the Pardons Board.
Yes, in May 2018, Anwar received the royal pardon. Anwar was imprisoned on the basis of trumped-up charges which the whole world knows about it. In short, Anwar was a political victim.
‘Hassan a man of principle’
However, Najib was charged, prosecuted for corruption and imprisoned for abuse of power and money laundering. There are other charges that Najib might have to answer in the court in due course.
Najib has all the rights in the world to apply for pardon from the King. I have no issue with this.
Anwar’s might be part of the Pardons Board but the ultimate authority is the King. Anwar might have role or might not in the Pardons Board.
Yes, in May 2018, Anwar received the royal pardon. Anwar was imprisoned on the basis of trumped-up charges which the whole world knows about it. In short, Anwar was a political victim.
‘Hassan a man of principle’
However, Najib was charged, prosecuted for corruption and imprisoned for abuse of power and money laundering. There are other charges that Najib might have to answer in the court in due course.
Najib has all the rights in the world to apply for pardon from the King. I have no issue with this.
Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy
The question of Anwar influencing the King either in pardoning or not pardoning Najib is not an issue at the moment. As I have said – and said by others as well – Anwar might have minuscule or no role in the pardon of Najib.
It is the sole prerogative of the King. The concerns expressed by Hassan on the pardoning of Najib has nothing to do with his earlier support of the unity government. I don’t think that Hassan is against the unity government because of UMNO’s presence within the ranks of the government.
I have known Hassan for more than 40 years. He is man of principles, a dedicated political activist and most importantly, part and parcel of Anwar’s reformist movement.
He expressed his concerns and fears about the political direction of the unity government, in particular that of its anchor, Pakatan Harapan (PH).
I hope Puad who had earlier criticised me for my comments on UMNO, should try to understand why Hassan made the comments on the pardon of Najib.
Hassan is not against the unity government but wants the government not be impaired by developments that might be related to the pardon.
Like Hassan, I want the unity government to succeed in meeting the political challenges ahead. – April 12, 2023
Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is the DAP state assemblyman for Perai. He is also Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang.
The question of Anwar influencing the King either in pardoning or not pardoning Najib is not an issue at the moment. As I have said – and said by others as well – Anwar might have minuscule or no role in the pardon of Najib.
It is the sole prerogative of the King. The concerns expressed by Hassan on the pardoning of Najib has nothing to do with his earlier support of the unity government. I don’t think that Hassan is against the unity government because of UMNO’s presence within the ranks of the government.
I have known Hassan for more than 40 years. He is man of principles, a dedicated political activist and most importantly, part and parcel of Anwar’s reformist movement.
He expressed his concerns and fears about the political direction of the unity government, in particular that of its anchor, Pakatan Harapan (PH).
I hope Puad who had earlier criticised me for my comments on UMNO, should try to understand why Hassan made the comments on the pardon of Najib.
Hassan is not against the unity government but wants the government not be impaired by developments that might be related to the pardon.
Like Hassan, I want the unity government to succeed in meeting the political challenges ahead. – April 12, 2023
Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is the DAP state assemblyman for Perai. He is also Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang.
Ramasamy is truly desperate indeed to get into Good Books to justify retaining his Prai seat and DCM post.
ReplyDeleteThis article is a toadying piece of drivel designed to Ampu the prevailing DAP leadership attitudes.