AMANAH respects Umno’s stance and decision to obtain a royal pardon for their former president Najib Razak, but the Malay party leadership also needs to respect the stance of other parties that are not in line with them, said Communications Director Khalid Samad.

He said Umno as part of the unity government should accept the differing views of its partners and “agree to disagree”. “We respect Umno’s wish to apply (for Najib’s royal pardon), that is its right, but we have to say Amanah has a different opinion.

Umno also has to respect us for having a different view, this is called ‘agreeing to disagree’. These differences need to be recognised and accepted. Najib has done a lot and contributed to Umno. it loves Najib and considers Najib a hero” but he is not Amanah’s hero, Khalid told The Malaysian Insight.He was responding to Umno president and Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s statement yesterday, which urged all parties to stop commenting on the issue.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also deputy prime minister, told Amanah not to interfere with the pardon process and allow the King to decide on it.

Khalid said Najib’s pardon will affect the people’s confidence in the government and institution of the Malay rulers, who want to cleanse the country of corruption and abuse of power.

He said a royal pardon would send the wrong message to the world about Malaysia’s attitude towards corruption when several countries are also prosecuting perpetrators of the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal, he said.

Accordingly, Amanah appealed to the Pardons Board and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to reject Najib’s application.

Partnership unaffected

Khalid however said the differing views of Amanah and Umno will not affect relations within the unity government. He said differences of opinion should not overshadow cooperation.

“We respect each other and are ready to ‘agree to disagree’, and we can work together (towards) a bigger vision, which is a civilised country that practises Rahmah politics,” said Khalid.

Khalid said Amanah was simply voicing its views on the matter.

“When (Umno) made the appeal, we don’t criticise; (we just) don’t agree. We explain why we don’t agree. That’s our perspective,” he said.

Umno’s Supreme Council in its April 7 meeting resolved to appeal to the Agong to fully pardon Najib.

Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the council based its ruling on its argument that Najib did not get a fair trial, and should be acquitted and released.

Najib is serving a 12-year prison sentence.

He was also fined RM210 million upon being found guilty of seven charges of breach of trust, abuse of power, and money laundering.

On March 31, the Federal Court in a four-to-one decision rejected Najib’s bid to review his conviction and sentence, which was previously affirmed by the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court.

The second panel of the Federal Court found there was no failing in the justice process when it heard Najib’s final appeal last August. – April 29, 2023.