PETALING JAYA: Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has accused Umno leaders of submitting to DAP to maintain their position in the government.
Dr Mahathir attributed this as the reason for Umno's decision to cancel its attendance at the 'Solidarity with Datuk Seri Najib Razak' rally held earlier on Monday (Jan 6).
He claimed that the decree from His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, did not directly prohibit the rally and blamed Umno's sudden retreat on DAP's opposition to PAS's presence at the event.
"What is clear is DAP's opposition to the cooperation between Umno and PAS, as if it continues, Umno may be expelled from the Pakatan government since Lim Guan Eng remains a formidable figure.
"The government will not collapse if Umno is excluded. However, the fate of Umno's leaders may be affected if Umno is no longer part of the government.
"This is the fate of Umno, with its leader’s safety depending on their participation in the government, of which DAP's support is crucial," he claimed in a statement on Monday (Jan 6).
Earlier on Monday, a solidarity gathering took place outside the Palace of Justice in conjunction with the Court of Appeal’s hearing related to an alleged royal addendum order that might allow former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his prison term under house arrest.
On Jan 3, Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki announced that the party would not join the rally, citing the need to honour the decree from His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, regarding pardons or sentence reductions for convicted prisoners, and following the directive of the Inspector-General of Police.
