Gulam accuses Hannah of ‘own goal’ over Najib pardon stance

KUALA LUMPUR: Batu Umno division chief Datuk Gulam Muszaffar Gulam Mustakim has accused Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh of scoring an “own goal” after DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said her position on former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s pardon was consistent with the party’s principles.

Gulam said Loke’s remarks appeared to confirm that Yeoh’s position in the Pardons Board was in line with DAP’s stance on Najib’s appeal.

He said this contradicted Yeoh’s earlier statement that her views were made honestly and candidly in her capacity as Federal Territories minister.

According to Gulam, Loke’s remarks showed that Yeoh was effectively representing DAP’s position during the Pardons Board meeting.

“YB Hannah Yeoh herself has been trapped by her own words as she tried to distance her views from DAP’s influence and principles,” he said in a statement posted on Facebook.

Gulam also expressed sympathy for Yeoh, claiming that she had been made a “scapegoat” and was forced to comply with her party’s position.

He said Yeoh had instead ended up “kicking and scoring a goal into her own net”, referring to what he described as the possible political implications of the controversy.

Gulam further speculated that DAP could decide to withdraw from the unity government, although he provided no evidence that such a decision was imminent.

“We will wait and see. If that happens, who will be the next Federal Territories minister?” he said.

Gulam then suggested several PKR figures as possible replacements, naming Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, Batu MP Prabakaran Parameswaran and Political Secretary to the Prime Minister Azman Abidin.

His remarks came amid continuing political debate over the Pardons Board’s decision concerning Najib, who was allowed to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest.