No Pardon For Najib Umno Dissatisfied But No Call To Exit Govt Asyraf

---

 


Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki today denied that some grassroots leaders have called on the party to exit the coalition government over Najib Abdul Razak’s pardon issue.
While he admitted that many Umno leaders and members were unhappy that the former premier did not get a full pardon, it did not come to the extent of seeking the collapse of the governing coalition.
Speaking to reporters this afternoon, Asyraf said he has not received any such message or suggestion from party leaders so far, including during its closed-door briefing with Umno division chiefs on Sunday.
“I have not received any (such call) either in writing, through WhatsApp messages, or any other channel.
“I was the one who chaired the briefing session with the party president, who delivered his speech, and no one questioned him (over no pardon for Najib) or demanded the party to exit (the government),” he said.
Reasons for absence
Asyraf spoke to the press after attending a “Sembang Santai Bersama Media” event organised by the Rural and Regional Development Ministry in Kuala Lumpur.
Earlier today, Malaysiakini reported that several Umno division leaders were absent from the Sunday briefing with party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, believed to be due to their disappointment over the Pardons Board’s decision.
This comes after the board decided to halve the former prime minister’s 12-year jail term, instead of granting him a full pardon.
Free Malaysia Today claimed that several Umno division leaders had called for the party to exit the government and expressed their unhappiness with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for failing to help Najib.
In response to these, Asyraf said only 20 Umno division leaders from 191 were absent from the briefing session.
The secretary-general claimed that those absent had already informed him that they could not make it. Six of them are in Mecca, some are overseas, while several from Sabah could not travel to the peninsula due to short notice, he said.
Focus on party’s core struggle
According to Asyraf, the Umno leadership has stressed to party members that the decision to halve Najib’s jail term was the sole prerogative of the then Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
“It is rather odd if there is a call (for Umno) to exit the government because this decision was not the prerogative of any political party but the power of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
“Nak marah siapa? (Who do you want to be angry at?) Umno is a party that defends the Malay royal institution. We heeded the king’s decree when His Majesty wanted a unity government.
“Why do you now want to question (the king) or go against him?”
When asked if he expects the issue to impact Umno’s support in the next general election, particularly among Najib’s loyalists, Asyraf said the party should focus on what is important.
“At this juncture, we must always think about our most important agenda.
“Umno’s core struggle is the position of Islam in this country, empowering the bumiputera agenda, and defending the royal institution and Bahasa Malaysia.
“Many are in doubt as if Umno has abandoned all these.” - Mkini

---