World · Malaysia Bureau
DAP urged to remove Umno from cabinet over Najib pardon
Political analysts and former DAP leaders have called for the opposition Democratic Action Party to push for Umno's removal from the federal cabinet, citing the government's decision to grant a royal pardon to former prime minister Najib Razak. The move reignites tensions over the 1MDB scandal that contributed to Umno's electoral defeat in 2018.
LSN Malaysia ·
Pressure is mounting on the Democratic Action Party to take a hardline stance against its coalition partner Umno following the recent royal pardon granted to Najib Razak, the former premier convicted in connection with the 1Malaysia Development Berhad financial scandal.
Former DAP member Ong Kian Ming has warned Umno that the 1MDB affair was instrumental in the party's electoral downfall six years ago, signalling that the pardon represents a significant political misstep. The analyst's intervention reflects growing frustration within DAP circles over the decision to reinstate Najib's political standing through the commutation of his sentence.
The royal pardon has reignited debate over accountability and governance within Malaysia's ruling coalition, with opposition voices contending that rehabilitating figures associated with the 1MDB scandal undermines efforts to combat corruption. The 1MDB scandal, which cost the country billions in misappropriated funds, became synonymous with Umno's governance record and played a central role in the party's defeat in the 2018 general election.
DAP has not yet responded formally to calls for cabinet withdrawal, leaving uncertainty over whether the coalition government will face fresh instability following the pardon announcement.