As Ex-King "Orders" All To Stop Discussing Addendum, Akmal "Poses" With "Pro-Najib" Mates From PAS...?!
9 Mar 2025 • 11:00 AM MYT
JK Joseph
Repentant ex-banker who believes in truth, compassion and some humour.
Credit Image: Malay Mail (Bernama pic) / Facebook Akmal Saleh
Were Najib's supporters “let down” by the ex-king's unexpected “gag order” on the royal addendum issue…?
Hotshot UMNO Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh’s recent “photo shoot” with several PAS stalwarts is sure to have raised eyebrows; but what some critics may be asking is: Was the Merlimau assemblyman, who is well known for his open hostility towards DAP, actually sending out a cryptic message? And if yes, to whom was it aimed at?
Akmal, who goes by the self-styled tagline “no fear, no surrender” has never been afraid to make known his feelings in his social media postings; but instead of mercilessly spewing venom on his enemies, or in this instance, expressing his disappointment at the royal rebuke calling for everyone to “zip it” on the addendum controversy, the message in his recent Facebook page was short and crisp…
“For the sake of religion, race and king, we will be united regardless of our political background.” Screenshot from Facebook Akmal Saleh
It is believed that Akmal was at the “Himpunan Pahang Bermunajat Raja Berdaulat” gathering at the Sultan Ahmad 1 State Mosque in Kuantan last Friday (Feb 28) attended by the Pahang Ruler Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah
The ex-king Al-Sultan Abdullah had reportedly urged all to immediately cease debating the royal addendum linked to ex-prime minister Najib Razak’s pardon.
According to the ruler, the matter is currently under legal review and should be respected; as such, he had called on all parties to exercise restraint in order not to spark unnecessary confusion and disputes.
He had also stressed the importance of allowing the legal process to take its course and had further urged the public and stakeholders to respect the country's laws and procedures instead of engaging in unproductive polemics that could trigger misunderstandings.
For the record, in February 2024, the Federal Territories Pardons Board, chaired by the ex-king, had “halved” Najib’s sentence relating to his SRC International trial conviction to six years.
Subsequently, the disgraced ex-PM had claimed that the then-king had purportedly issued a “royal addendum” to allow him to serve the remaining sentence under home detention.
Then last January the matter reached a climax after around 3,000 supporters, mainly from the opposition PAS and Bersatu, had rallied outside the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya to hear the Court of Appeal grant Najib’s application for leave to adduce fresh evidence in his appeal to serve the remainder of his jail term under house arrest.
However, UMNO had decided to withdraw from the gathering at the eleventh hour following advice from the police; but it's youth chief Akmal had defied his party president Zahid Hamidi who had warned members that they will be responsible for their own actions should they proceed to go to Putrajaya to show support for Najib.
The ex-king Al-Sultan Abdullah had reportedly urged all to immediately cease debating the royal addendum linked to ex-prime minister Najib Razak’s pardon.
According to the ruler, the matter is currently under legal review and should be respected; as such, he had called on all parties to exercise restraint in order not to spark unnecessary confusion and disputes.
He had also stressed the importance of allowing the legal process to take its course and had further urged the public and stakeholders to respect the country's laws and procedures instead of engaging in unproductive polemics that could trigger misunderstandings.
For the record, in February 2024, the Federal Territories Pardons Board, chaired by the ex-king, had “halved” Najib’s sentence relating to his SRC International trial conviction to six years.
Subsequently, the disgraced ex-PM had claimed that the then-king had purportedly issued a “royal addendum” to allow him to serve the remaining sentence under home detention.
Then last January the matter reached a climax after around 3,000 supporters, mainly from the opposition PAS and Bersatu, had rallied outside the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya to hear the Court of Appeal grant Najib’s application for leave to adduce fresh evidence in his appeal to serve the remainder of his jail term under house arrest.
However, UMNO had decided to withdraw from the gathering at the eleventh hour following advice from the police; but it's youth chief Akmal had defied his party president Zahid Hamidi who had warned members that they will be responsible for their own actions should they proceed to go to Putrajaya to show support for Najib.
The UMNO Youth chief seen here in Putrajaya on the day of the rally. Credit Image: BH Online / Focus Malaysia
In any case, the sultan's recent “decree” must have seemed like a “psychological blow” to those who have been actively championing for the disgraced ex-PM in the addendum saga; moreover, there is also no absolute guarantee that the latter may succeed in being allowed to go on house arrest.
Meanwhile, coming back to Akmal's audacious “photo shoot” with the two controversial PAS lawmakers, what some curious observers may question is: Was it really a coincidence that barely 24 hours earlier the same two PAS warlords had clashed with DAP’s RSN Rayer inside Parliament?
Following Pendang MP Awang Hashim’s emotional outburst where he had called the DAP lawmaker “anti-Islam”, a shouting match had ensued with firebrand Arau MP Shahidan Kassim then joining in the heated exchange.
Just “releasing tension”… or was it a statement of defiance?
It would appear that the controversial photo with the two “anti-DAP” opposition warlords in his Facebook page may have raised concerns among some as to where the maverick UMNO Youth chief’s true allegiance lay in the context of the unity government?
Furthermore, since Akmal and PAS seem to share a common enemy in DAP, to some observers it may appear that there was a concealed message behind the social media post; but the question is: Was it aimed solely at his nemesis DAP? Or at someone else…?
In any case, the sultan's recent “decree” must have seemed like a “psychological blow” to those who have been actively championing for the disgraced ex-PM in the addendum saga; moreover, there is also no absolute guarantee that the latter may succeed in being allowed to go on house arrest.
Meanwhile, coming back to Akmal's audacious “photo shoot” with the two controversial PAS lawmakers, what some curious observers may question is: Was it really a coincidence that barely 24 hours earlier the same two PAS warlords had clashed with DAP’s RSN Rayer inside Parliament?
Following Pendang MP Awang Hashim’s emotional outburst where he had called the DAP lawmaker “anti-Islam”, a shouting match had ensued with firebrand Arau MP Shahidan Kassim then joining in the heated exchange.
Just “releasing tension”… or was it a statement of defiance?
It would appear that the controversial photo with the two “anti-DAP” opposition warlords in his Facebook page may have raised concerns among some as to where the maverick UMNO Youth chief’s true allegiance lay in the context of the unity government?
Furthermore, since Akmal and PAS seem to share a common enemy in DAP, to some observers it may appear that there was a concealed message behind the social media post; but the question is: Was it aimed solely at his nemesis DAP? Or at someone else…?
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