UMNO Supreme Council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi has labelled Amanah as a party that could not be considered as a true friend, although they are together in the unity government.

He said Amanah was only a political ally and not a trustworthy partner after the party had said it would not support any pardon move for former prime minister Najib Razak.

Amanah is a component of Pakatan Harapan (PH), which is leading the unity government with the support of Umno and Barisan Nasional as well as other parties.

Earlier this week, Amanah appealed to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to reject Najib’s pardon application.

“It’s hard to be friends with Amanah. They are friends who don’t guarantee the unity government can stay. They are friends who backstab friends,” Puad said in a Facebook post today. 

Amanah said its stance was because it did not want the people to lose confidence in the government and institutions of the Malay rulers.

The pardon, if granted, would also send a wrong message to the world about Malaysia’s attitude towards corruption, when several countries are also prosecuting the perpetrators of the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal, Amanah communications director Khalid Samad said.

Amanah’s stand has caused major concerns within Umno with some state leaders calling for Umno to cut ties with the PH party.

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

The Pardons Board, which convened on Friday, however, reportedly did not hear Najib’s application, among the 28 that were heard. – April 30, 2023.