Analyst: Umno Youth chief Akmal wrongly frames DAP criticism as 3R breach

Political scientist Prof Wong Chin Huat has criticised Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh for accusing DAP of crossing the “red lines” involving race, religion and royalty, saying the narrative misrepresents criticism of corruption as an ethnic provocation. — Social media pic, January 4, 2025


Analyst: Umno Youth chief Akmal wrongly frames DAP criticism as 3R breach


Wong Chin Huat says attack ignores corruption and risks shielding former premier Najib


Scoop Reporters
Updated 49 seconds ago
4 January, 2026
12:47 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR — Political scientist Prof Wong Chin Huat has criticised Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh for accusing DAP of crossing the “red lines” involving race, religion and royalty, saying the narrative misrepresents criticism of corruption as an ethnic provocation.

“That comment is not about race, religion or royalty. It is about corruption,” Wong said, describing it as the “fourth R, rasuah” (corruption).

Akmal made the remarks at a recent Umno Youth special convention, warning that continued cooperation in the Unity Government depended on respect for agreed red lines.

“If the ‘red lines’ agreed upon during the formation of the unity government were crossed, the youth wing would oppose it,” he said, accusing government partners of repeatedly showing disrespect towards Malay institutions, Islam and the monarchy. The remarks were prompted in part by DAP Puchong MP Yeo Bee Yin’s reaction to Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s legal setback.

Wong said DAP had in fact been “very prudent and considerate” on sensitive issues, sometimes to its own political cost, including losing support in Sabah.

“DAP has been careful on the 3Rs to the extent that it has even been punished by its own base,” he said. “This is being framed as a 3R issue when it is really about corruption.”

Political scientist Prof Wong Chin Huat says DAP has been “very prudent and considerate” on sensitive issues, sometimes to its own political cost. — Social media pic, January 4, 2026


According to Wong, Akmal, and young Turks in PAS are trying to revive Muafakat Nasional to monopolise Malay nationalist and conservative votes, which could then free Najib and protect future corrupt politicians in their camp.

Wong also questioned the assumption that ordinary Malays would rally behind Najib, citing the scale of his financial crimes: “The RM44 billion embezzled through SRC International and 1MDB is equivalent to what about half a million youths aged 18 would need to work for 30 months if they were paid RM3,000 a month,” he said.

He said Akmal and PAS hardliners believed that Malays were stuck in identity politics and lacked class consciousness and appetite for good governance, but they could be wrong.

Whether this voice grows louder or fizzles out in the next two weeks, leading up to the Umno General Assembly, will depend on how Madani and Umno top leadership respond, Wong said.

He added that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s avoidance of drawing a line on Najib had resulted in Najib growing greedier. “His daughter admitted that he wouldn’t pursue the addendum if he knew it was a dead end,” Wong said.

“Yes, Zahid lacks credibility to talk about integrity. But other Umno ministers, especially Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said and Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad, have no such issues,” Wong said.

“Leaders like Johari who have the most to lose if Akmal’s narrative sweeps through the party have to step forward and not expect the desperado narrative to fizzle out,” he added.— January 4, 2026