KUALA LUMPUR: The next 24 hours will be crucial for DAP leaders holding Cabinet positions in the unity government.
The Pakatan Harapan (PH) Presidential Council is scheduled to meet this evening following the latest political developments, including former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s house arrest order. The council will also discuss Barisan Nasional’s position in the unity government. The meeting will be chaired by PH chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
DAP’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) is scheduled to meet tomorrow at 3pm.
However, Twentytwo13 learnt that a decision on DAP’s position in the government was highly unlikely before the CEC meeting.
Some DAP leaders are ready to quit the Cabinet, while others favour a wait-and-see approach, it is understood. There are five ministers and seven deputy ministers from DAP in Anwar’s administration.
Calls have been made in recent weeks including from DAP members for their leaders in the Cabinet to resign in the event Najib is pardoned.
Discussions have also taken place on the possibility of an early general election following the latest political developments. Such a move, however, could prove detrimental to PH at this stage.
Anwar is scheduled to table Budget 2027 next month and requires a simple majority in the Dewan Rakyat to pass it.
Najib, 73, was today granted a conditional pardon allowing him to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028, provided he pays a reduced fine of RM50 million.
The decision was made at the 64th meeting of the Federal Territories Pardons Board, chaired by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia.
Najib must comply with all conditions imposed under the conditional pardon. Failure to do so could result in its revocation, requiring him to immediately resume serving the remainder of his sentence in prison.
The Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department announced the decision in a statement today.
Najib is serving a reduced sentence after being convicted of misappropriating RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd. He was initially sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined RM210 million before beginning his sentence at Kajang Prison on Aug 23, 2022.
In early 2024, the Pardons Board Secretariat announced that his prison sentence had been reduced by 50 per cent, from 12 years to six, while his fine was reduced from RM210 million to RM50 million.
Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today called on party leaders, members and supporters to help raise the RM50 million needed to pay Najib’s fine and facilitate his house arrest.
Zahid said the fundraising initiative would ease Najib’s financial burden.
