DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook has reminded party members to exercise caution in public remarks involving former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, stressing that Najib once led Umno, which is now a partner in the unity government. He said differences in principle should not be allowed to damage working relationships crucial to governing the country.
Speaking in a Chinese-language podcast aired in early January 2026, Loke said he had personally spoken to Puchong MP Yeo Bee Yin following controversy over her remarks linked to Najib’s failed attempt to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest. While Loke made it clear that he disagreed with the approach taken, he said no formal reprimand was issued.
According to Loke, Najib is already serving a prison sentence, which fulfils the accountability objective long upheld by DAP. In that context, he suggested that further commentary celebrating legal setbacks faced by Najib was unnecessary and risked creating avoidable tension within the unity government. He added that while DAP maintains its own principles and political stance, prudence is required to preserve cooperation with allies.
Loke also highlighted the importance of communication among coalition partners, noting that strained relationships make coordination and reform efforts more difficult. He warned that careless remarks could undermine trust at a time when collaboration is essential to push through policy changes and governance reforms.
The controversy traces back to December 2025, when Yeo’s remarks following the court’s rejection of Najib’s house arrest application triggered strong reactions from Umno leaders and unease within Pakatan Harapan. Umno secretary-general Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki responded by questioning whether cooperation should continue with partners perceived as dismissive of Umno’s role in the government.
The fallout escalated when the Umno division in Puchong severed ties with its Pakatan Harapan counterpart after Yeo declined to apologise. This was followed by a special Umno Youth convention, during which the wing called on the party to reconsider its support for the unity government.
Reflecting on the episode, Loke said the situation could have been handled more tactfully. He suggested that personal satisfaction over legal outcomes need not be expressed publicly, especially when such expressions risk broader political consequences.
Najib, now 72, has been serving a reduced six-year prison sentence since August 2022 after being convicted of misappropriating RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd. His recent application to serve the remainder of the sentence under house arrest was dismissed by the High Court, which ruled that existing laws do not provide a mechanism for such an arrangement.
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