SHAH ALAM - Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Puad Zarkashi has criticised Muda for rejecting the royal pardon appeal for former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, claming the party is of hypocrisy.
In his Facebook post, Puad, the Johor State assembly speaker asked if Muda was "a pure and clean party?", citing Muda President, Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman ongoing corruption court case.
"Najib chose not to contest in the 15th general election (GE15) while Syed Saddiq contested in Muar," he said, further claiming that the Muar MP may run in the 16th general election even if he is later found guilty.
"Muda should not act hypocritically at this young age," Puad stressed.
Puad was replying to a statement by Muda that stated its official stand to oppose any effort to save any "kleptocrat" who has upset and "pawned" the nation.
Muda hoped that the Pardons Board would reject the application for a pardon over Najib's corruption conviction. The 70-year-old former Pekan MP is in prison over corruption charges linked to 1MDB.
Puad had also criticised Amanah, a component party of PH after its communications director Khalid Samad called to reject any pardon bid for Najib.
Amanah has since apologised for upsetting Umno but Khalid said he maintained his stand that a pardon for Najib would tarnish reputation of the unity government to fight corruption and power abuse.
Najib is currently serving a 12-year jail sentence since last August after being convicted of misappropriating RM42 million belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former 1MDB subsidiary.
Najib still faces multiple other charges directly and indirectly linked to the embezzlement of billions of ringgit from 1MDB, the national investment fund.
Sinar Daily has contacted Syed Saddiq for comments.