Umno moots 4 options for DAP over Najib’s house arrest row

Umno moots 4 options for DAP over Najib’s house arrest row

4 hours ago

FMT Reporters

The options include keeping calm and reviewing the unity government agreement.

Umno information chief Azalina Othman Said said if there are differences of opinion among coalition partners, the appropriate response is dialogue and consultation, not public pressure or demands for resignation.

PETALING JAYA:

Umno today proposed four options for DAP to consider in light of its dissatisfaction over former prime minister Najib Razak’s house arrest, which took effect on Tuesday.

In a lengthy statement, Umno information chief Azalina Othman Said said the first recourse for DAP would be to seek mediation among the unity government’s component parties.

She said Clause 5(c) of the unity government’s agreement provides for mediation through a consultative council, comprising representatives from the coalitions’ components, to resolve any disputes or misunderstandings.

However, Azalina found it “curious” that DAP did not seek mediation earlier despite the fact that the subject of Najib’s pardon had been public knowledge since January 2024.

She said the second recourse would be terminating the agreement.

However, no such clause exists in the agreement, as it is intended to last until the end of the 15th Parliament.

“Therefore, the obvious conclusion here would be for the dissolution of Parliament.”

Azalina said the third option was for DAP to remain calm and allow the existing arrangements to continue, noting that the party benefited from “the royal prerogative of mercy in 2018”, alluding to then opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s royal pardon and the king’s intervention in 2022 that facilitated the formation of the unity government.

“This underscores the importance of respecting both the constitutional role and the royal prerogative of mercy.”

Finally, DAP could also seek a review of the unity government’s agreement, specifically Paragraph C, which deals with the affirmation by the components to uphold the Federal Constitution, including the institution of the Malay Rulers.

“Any consideration by DAP to review Paragraph C would bring unanticipated consequences to the continuity of the unity government.”

Azalina’s comments follow DAP chairman Gobind Singh Deo’s challenge for Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to resign if he did not support Anwar’s prime ministership.

Gobind’s remarks were in response to Zahid’s statement on Tuesday that dissolving Parliament would be preferable to a Cabinet reshuffle, following DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook’s resignation as transport minister.

Loke resigned in September over Najib’s conditional pardon, but it only took effect after the former Pekan MP began his house arrest earlier this week.

Azalina said Gobind’s statement was “regrettable” and did little to strengthen the spirit of cooperation within the unity government.

She added that issuing public ultimatums to the president of a coalition partner is neither constructive nor consistent with the spirit of the unity government’s agreement.

“If there are differences of opinion among coalition partners, the appropriate response is dialogue and consultation, not public pressure or demands for resignation.”

She also said that the party will continue to honour its commitments, respect Anwar’s leadership and uphold the Federal Constitution.

“We have made our position clear. The next move is yours.”