PEOPLE who had voted for Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the last general election will find it hard to swallow if Najib Razak is granted a royal pardon, because the former prime minister’s wrongdoings are a shame to the country, Amanah leaders said.

Amanah committee member Mohamed Hanipa Maidin said voters will not easily forget Najib’s transgressions even though Umno is an ally to PH in the unity government.

He gave the warning at the time when Umno put pressure on Amanah as some of its leaders had rejected efforts to apply for a pardon for the country’s sixth prime minister.

“To me, Umno cannot feel just because PH is with them, the PH government will easily forget Najib’s case or any corruption case in court.

“If Umno has held on to that wish, it is a very wild dream.

“Thus, I don’t think PH voters can easily accept Najib being pardoned so easily after the court itself once said the 1MDB crime is a national shame,” he said.

In a commentary published by the Harapan Daily portal, Hanipa also reminded Umno that PH’s decision to cooperate with the Malay party was “a less harmful choice between two great harms”.

Umno needs to realise that PH needs to face these voters again, he said.

“Perhaps Amanah feels it will do more harm for Perikatan Nasional and PAS to rule the country, compared to having Umno, Barisan Nasional and PH form a joint government.

“To be fair to PH, Umno also needs to realise that PH also needs to answer the voters who voted for PH in the last general election,” the former Sepang MP added.

Amanah had to issue a public apology yesterday after a party leader on Friday called for Najib’s pardon bid to be rejected.

Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub said he had apologised personally to Umno President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

This follows to a statement issued by Amanah communications director Khalid Abdul Samad that led to a furore among Umno leaders.

Salahuddin also asserted that every prisoner has their right to request his a royal pardon.

In an initial statement, Khalid said the Najib’s pardon bid undermines the public’s confidence towards the government and the Malay Rulers who want to fight corruption in the country.

Umno leaders have described Amanah as “not a true friend” because of the stance it had taken. – May 1, 2023.