Rein in your members who speak out against Pardons Board decision, Zahid tells Pakatan

KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Harapan leaders have been told to reprimand their members for making “antagonistic” comments on the Pardons Board's decision regarding former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Pakatan leaders should also urge them to apologise to his party, Umno.

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Speaking to the media after a function at the Rural and Regional Development Ministry here on Monday (Feb 5), Ahmad Zahid said he believed that the comments by these individuals did not represent their parties.

This was because such statements were not made by the top leadership of those parties, he added.

Umno leaders had accused former DAP leader and MP Tony Pua of going overboard with his remarks on the Pardons Board's decision to reduce Najib's jail term in the SRC International case to six years from 12, and his fine to RM50mil from RM210mil.

However, he said he would not stop other Umno leaders from lodging police reports against those who criticised the Pardons Board decision.

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“We have studied the antagonistic opinions of certain individuals in certain parties. Even in Umno there are some of these 'kacang hantu' (little ghosts).

“As long as these comments were not made by the party’s main leaders, we do not regard them as coming officially from the parties.

“However, I ask the party leaders to reprimand those who have written such comments (and get them) to delete them and apologise. This will stop the animosity and calm the situation.

“The relationship between Umno and DAP has not been affected after the decision by the Pardons Board but as a coalition in the Madani government, we have to respect each other’s opinions.

“That said, we must respect the main leadership of the parties as they are the ones who voice the official stand of their parties,” he added.

Following the reduction of his sentence, Najib will be released on Aug 23, 2028.

"However, if the fine is not paid, a year will be added to the jail term, and the release date will then be on Aug 23, 2029," the Pardons Board secretariat said on Friday (Feb 2).

Soon after, Pua put up three Facebook posts expressing his dissatisfaction with the decision, raising the ire of Umno leaders.

Pua even asked that he be sent to prison in exchange for being paid RM50mil.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said an investigation was launched as the former Damansara MP’s comments allegedly insulted the royal institution.

Pua was summoned to Bukit Aman to give his statement on Monday.