Umno has proposed four options for DAP to consider amid the party’s dissatisfaction over former prime minister Najib Razak’s house arrest, which took effect on Tuesday.
In a lengthy statement, Umno information chief Azalina Othman Said said DAP’s first option was to seek mediation among the component parties of the unity government.
She said Clause 5(c) of the unity government’s agreement provides for disputes or misunderstandings to be resolved through mediation by a consultative council comprising representatives of the component coalitions.
However, Azalina said it was ‘curious’ that DAP had not sought mediation earlier, given that the issue of Najib’s pardon had been public knowledge since January 2024.
Four options for DAP
She said the second option was to terminate the agreement.
However, she noted that the agreement contained no such provision, as it was intended to remain in force until the end of the 15th Parliament.
‘Therefore, the obvious conclusion here would be for the dissolution of Parliament,’ she said.
Azalina said the third option was for DAP to remain calm and allow the existing arrangements to continue.
She noted that DAP had benefited from ‘the royal prerogative of mercy in 2018’, referring to then opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s royal pardon and the King’s intervention in 2022 that facilitated the formation of the unity government.
‘This underscores the importance of respecting both the constitutional role and the royal prerogative of mercy,’ she said.
The fourth option was for DAP to seek a review of the unity government’s agreement, specifically Paragraph C, which concerns the component parties’ commitment to uphold the Federal Constitution, including the institution of the Malay Rulers.
Azalina warned that any move by DAP to review Paragraph C could have ‘unanticipated consequences’ for the continuity of the unity government.
Azalina criticises Gobind’s ultimatum
Her remarks followed DAP chairman Gobind Singh Deo’s challenge to Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to resign if he did not support Anwar’s position as prime minister.
Gobind made the challenge in response to Zahid’s statement on Tuesday that dissolving Parliament would be preferable to a Cabinet reshuffle, following DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook’s resignation as transport minister.
Loke had announced his resignation in September over Najib’s conditional pardon, but it only took effect after the former Pekan MP began serving the remainder of his sentence under house arrest earlier this week.
Azalina described Gobind’s statement as ‘regrettable’, saying it did little to strengthen the spirit of cooperation within the unity government.
She added that issuing public ultimatums to the president of a coalition partner was neither constructive nor consistent with the spirit of the unity government’s agreement.
‘If there are differences of opinion among coalition partners, the appropriate response is dialogue and consultation, not public pressure or demands for resignation,’ she said.
Azalina also said Umno would continue to honour its commitments, respect Anwar’s leadership and uphold the Federal Constitution.
‘We have made our position clear. The next move is yours,’ she said.
