LGE slams Umno rally with PN on January 6

BAGAN MP Lim Guan Eng has hit out at Umno for joining hands with PAS to hold a rally in solidarity with incarcerated former prime minister Najib Razak next week.

Lim, who is also DAP chairman, said this would raise doubts about Umno’s sincerity in being a partner in the unity government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

“Umno must be aware that any joint event with PAS, an opposition party, will also raise doubts about Umno’s own political stability and its position in the unity government,” he said in a press conference at Penang DAP’s headquarters here, joined by party veteran Lim Kit Siang.

Lim also took aim at Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh for questioning whether Anwar’s royal pardon in 2018 had gone through the pardons board.

He said Akmal was essentially questioning the authority of the king as well as Anwar’s legitimacy as an MP and prime minister.

“As a member of the unity government, such actions openly intend to challenge and even undermine the political stability of the unity government and the position of the prime minister.

“I ask that appropriate action be taken by the prime minister to rectify this situation in order to maintain the people’s confidence in the unity government,” he said.

PAS’s rally will be held on the same day that the Court of Appeal hears Najib’s application on a purported supplementary decree placing him under house arrest.

It would be Umno and PAS’s first time working together since their alliance under Muafakat Nasional ended in 2022.

Over 200 busloads of Najib’s supporters are expected to attend the rally, comprising Umno and PAS members. Bersatu leaders are also expected to be in attendance.

Amanah said it would not bar its members from attending the rally, but PKR’s Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim had urged his party colleagues against participating.