No such move to oust Zahid as president

UMNO vice-president Khaled Nordin has dismissed rumours of division leaders’ discontent with party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi over the failure to secure a full pardon for his predecessor Najib Razak.

The rumours were said to have revolved around a letter calling for Zahid’s resignation as party chief, Utusan Malaysia reported.

“Even if such a letter is signed, the president cannot be removed. So, why even bother signing,” he was quoted as saying yesterday.

Khaled said the meeting between division leaders and the president held today was to clarify current issues, particularly regarding the Federal Territories Pardons Board’s decision to only commute Najib’s sentence instead of giving a full pardon, over his conviction in the SRC International case.

Khaled was asked to comment on a letter, supposedly signed by division leaders, asking for Zahid to step down.

He added that the party’s Supreme Council in a meeting yesterday came to a conclusion that it will focus its efforts on ensuring Najib receives “true justice”.

“We hope the Pardons Board will reconsider the commuted sentence as fairly as possible,” he said after visiting army veterans in Taman Aman.

Earlier today, Umno Supreme Council member Ahmad Maslan said Zahid had made every effort to obtain a full pardon for Najib, and the party is now focussing on efforts to seek a full pardon once again.

“Zahid has done many things, not all of which can be disclosed to the public.

“Yesterday, during the Supreme Council meeting, Zahid explained all the action taken to obtain a full pardon for Najib,” Ahmad said, according to Sinar Harian.

On Friday, the Pardons Board announced that Najib’s prison sentence has been reduced from 12 years to six.

His fine has also been reduced from RM210 million to RM50 million. However, if he fails to settle the fine, he will have to serve an additional year in jail.

 

Tak wujud gerakan guling Zahid, kata Khaled

UMNO menafikan terdapat gerakan menggulingkan Presidennya, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yang kononnya didalangi ketua-ketua bahagian parti itu.

Naib Presiden Umno, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin berkata, beliau tidak tahu bagaimana dakwaan itu timbul ketika pucuk pimpinan parti sedang berusaha menyelesaikan isu berbangkit termasuk pengampunan Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

“Surat kalau ditandatangani (ketua bahagian) pun, Presiden tak akan terguling.

“Jadi buat apa nak tandatangan surat. Mana ada,” katanya, semalam.

Terdahulu, Ahli Majlis Kerja Tertinggi (MKT) Umno, Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan dilaporkan hari ini turut menafikan dakwaan terdapat usaha menggulingkan Ahmad Zahid oleh ketua-ketua bahagian parti itu.

Ahmad Maslan dilaporkan berkata, Ahmad Zahid yang juga Timbalan Perdana Menteri sudah berusaha sebaiknya bagi mendapatkan pengampunan penuh terhadap Najib yang juga bekas Presidennya yang sedang menjalani hukuman penjara selama 12 tahun.

Jumaat lalu, Lembaga Pengampunan Wilayah-Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Labuan dan Putrajaya kali ke-61 dilaporkan memutuskan hukuman ke atas Najib diberikan pengurangan 50 peratus bagi hukuman dan denda yang perlu dibayar.

Dalam kenyataan Urusetia Lembaga Pengampunan memaklumkan, Najib dipersetujui untuk dibebaskan pada tarikh pembebasan awal iaitu pada 23 Ogos 2028 dan denda yang perlu dibayar iaitu sebanyak RM210 juta dikurangkan kepada RM50 juta.

Ditanya kemarahan akar umbi Umno susulan keputusan Lembaga Pengampunan itu, Mohamed Khaled yang juga Ketua Bahagian Umno Pasir Gudang dan Menteri Pertahanan berkata, Lembaga Pengampunan adalah hak mutlak dan budi bicara Yang di-Pertuan Agong sepenuhnya.

“Umno memahami dan mengakui ia (Lembaga Pengampunan) adalah kuasa mutlak budi bicara Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

“Walau pun ada ribut dan desakan berlaku, ia di luar apa yang kita boleh lakukan. Umno menerima dan menghormati keputusan berkenaan.

“Bagaimanapun kita akan terus berusaha memohon pengampunan untuk Datuk Seri Najib Razak,” katanya.

 

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