Mukhriz mocks Malay unity rationale for pro-Najib rally

PETALING JAYA: Pejuang president Mukhriz Mahathir said he found it strange that there were those who wanted to hold a gathering in solidarity with former prime minister Najib Razak on grounds of Malay unity.

Mukhriz said in a TikTok video that Najib had ruined the image of the Malays by being convicted of corruption and in being responsible for the fall of Barisan Nasional and Umno in the 2018 general election.

The Malay community should be aware of this fact, Mukhriz said.

He said a gathering to support Najib would be an embarrassment to the Malay community “because after this, the public will say, ‘look at the Malays, they support such a kleptocrat’. So I think it’s really strange when Malays want to gather for a person who has been proven to be a kleptocrat on grounds of Malay unity”.

Mukhriz questioned if the Malays were willing to “pawn off their dignity” for the sake of one person.

PAS has urged its members to gather outside the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya tomorrow in a show of solidarity for Najib. However, the police have declared the rally to be illegal as no permit for a public assembly was issued.

The rally will be held on the same day the Court of Appeal hears Najib’s application on a purported order placing him under house arrest. He claims the order was issued in an addendum to a Feb 2 decision by the pardons board to commute his jail term to six years and reduce his fine to RM50 million.

Umno and Barisan Nasional have called off taking part in the rally following the police warning and an Istana Negara statement on the need to follow established procedures regarding pardons.