KUALA LUMPUR: The DAP leadership must give a clear stand on the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal, the investigation of Tony Pua and its commitment to institutional reform.
Former Bangi member of parliament Ong Kian Ming said that despite the Pardons Board's decision to reduce the sentence of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, DAP should not stay silent on its position on these issues.
"We need to call a spade a spade.
"The recommendation by the Pardons Board to reduce Najib's prison time from 12 years to six years and the reduction of the fine from RM210 million to RM50 million is likely a compromise that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the PH leadership had to make to placate the supporters of 'Bossku' (referring to Najib) within Umno.
"(However), the DAP leadership must reiterate its position on the 1MDB scandal, the biggest corruption case in Malaysian history, which the party campaigned against in the 2018 and 2022 general elections.
"This must include taking a firm position that the ongoing 1MDB cases against Najib should continue and not experience the same fate as the 72 dismissal not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) cases against Deputy Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad) Zahid Hamidi," he said.
Regarding the police investigation against DAP veteran Tony Pua, Ong said the former had contributed to Najib's conviction in the 1MDB scandal and the change of government in the 14th General Election (GE14).
"The DAP leadership must take a firm position on the investigation announced by the police against Pua under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948 and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
"While some of Tony's Facebook posts in reaction to Najib's reduced sentence may not have been done in good taste, the DAP leadership must not forget his relentless pursuit of the details of the 1MDB scandal in and out of Parliament.
"Without Pua's contributions, we may not have experienced the change in government after the 2018 general election, and Najib would not have been charged, tried, and convicted over his
role in the 1MDB scandal, starting with the SRC International charges for which he is serving his sentence."
