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KUALA LUMPUR – Umno Youth has slammed Pakatan Harapan (PH) for allegedly taking a hypocritical stance by continuing to question the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s power of pardon when the decision does not favour the coalition.
Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh said Umno was saddened when the court sentenced former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, but had never declared the judiciary an enemy.
He said that despite being disappointed with the decision, the party chose to fight through legal channels.
“When Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim received a full pardon, Umno did not question the power of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. We did not attack His Majesty’s decree.
“We accepted it because the King’s power of pardon is an absolute power enshrined in the Constitution and that is what we uphold!
“When the pardon favours them, it is called justice. When it involves our leader, the King’s power is suddenly being questioned! This is not principle, this is hypocrisy,” he said.
He said this while delivering his policy speech at the Umno Youth General Assembly at the World Trade Centre (WTC) here on Thursday.
Also present were Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Pas Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh confirmed that the Federal Territories Pardons Board would meet on Friday.
She confirmed that she was among those called to attend the meeting but declined to provide further details on the agenda, including Najib’s application.
Elaborating, Akmal said Umno’s position was clear, with court decisions respected and the King’s authority upheld.
On Wednesday, Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki also questioned why there appeared to be two standards when it came to the issue of pardons.
“When it involves their leaders, a pardon is considered justice. But when it involves an Umno leader, the King’s power is suddenly being questioned,” he said.
