Kelantan UMNO has pushed back against remarks by DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng, urging him to refrain from overreacting to PAS's involvement in the upcoming solidarity rally for Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. The rally, scheduled for January 6 in Putrajaya, aims to show support for Najib amid his ongoing legal battles.
Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub, the Kelantan UMNO chairman, asserted that the gathering is a peaceful demonstration of support and carries no ulterior political agenda. "Guan Eng doesn’t need to overreact simply because thousands of UMNO members, alongside PAS supporters, will be present to provide moral support for Najib’s release,” Jazlan remarked.
Addressing Guan Eng’s concerns about the rally undermining political stability, Jazlan dismissed them as baseless. "This solidarity event has no political motives. It’s about standing by a former leader we believe was subjected to selective prosecution," he stated, pointing to allegations that Najib’s legal troubles stemmed from targeted actions under the seventh and eighth prime ministers, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, respectively.
Jazlan emphasized that UMNO remains firmly committed to the national unity government and maintains harmonious relations with its coalition partners. "UMNO’s support for the unity government remains unwavering. This rally is not a challenge to the government but a demonstration of loyalty to a party leader who we feel was unjustly treated,” he added.
Lim Guan Eng had earlier raised concerns about the implications of the rally, cautioning that the collaboration between UMNO and PAS could erode public confidence in UMNO’s sincerity as a partner in the unity government. He argued that such actions might create doubts about UMNO’s political stability and its commitment to the coalition formed in 2022 under the guidance of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Responding to these claims, Jazlan criticized Guan Eng for allegedly overinterpreting the event’s significance. “There’s no need for Guan Eng to fear his own shadow or to misinterpret this peaceful show of support as a threat to the government,” Jazlan stated.
The rally has ignited a broader debate on the dynamics within the unity government, raising questions about UMNO’s position and its collaboration with PAS, a party now aligned with the opposition. As the event approaches, it continues to stir political tensions, reflecting the complexities of Malaysia’s evolving political landscape.
Information Source: Sinar Harian
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