DAP must reconsider Cabinet position if Najib is freed — Ben Fong Kok Seng

The article discusses the potential meeting of the Federal Territories Pardons Board to consider clemency for Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

It emphasizes the importance of respecting constitutional processes while highlighting the Democratic Action Party's (DAP) dilemma if Najib is freed without serving a sufficient sentence.

It underscores DAP's commitment to clean governance and suggests that, should Najib's release occur, maintaining principles might necessitate resigning from the Cabinet.

The article concludes by distinguishing the author's personal view from the official stance of DAP.

SEPTEMBER 10 — There have been reports over the past few days that the Federal Territories Pardons Board will meet this Friday, with Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s application for clemency expected to be considered.

Whether true or not, the constitutional process, including the powers of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, must be fully respected. However, respect for the constitutional process does not require us to abandon our political principles.

At our recent party convention, DAP delegates gave the leadership a clear mandate to remain in government until the end of the parliamentary term, and that decision must be respected. However, the mandate was given based on the circumstances before us at the time.

If Najib is released without serving a punishment commensurate with the gravity of his convictions, it would fundamentally change those circumstances. In my view, it would then be untenable for DAP to remain in the Cabinet. This is a red line that we cannot cross.

Najib’s conviction in the SRC International case was upheld by the Federal Court. He was subsequently convicted by the High Court on another 25 charges involving 1MDB funds and sentenced to a further 15 years’ imprisonment, although that conviction is presently under appeal.

If Najib is released, it would be difficult for DAP to reconcile with its longstanding commitment to clean government, institutional reform and accountability. The question is not the validity of the constitutional process, which must be respected, but whether remaining in the Cabinet would compromise the principles on which the party has consistently stood.

I therefore echo the position previously expressed by DAP vice-chairman Nga Kor Ming, who said he was prepared to resign from the Cabinet if Najib were released without serving an appropriate sentence.

Leaving the Cabinet need not mean bringing down the Madani government. DAP can continue supporting the government from outside the Cabinet to preserve political stability and to push for institutional reforms such as limiting the tenure of the PM and separating the positions of the Attorney-General and Public Prosecutor.

But stability cannot become an excuse for accepting everything. Political leaders must recognise that some lines cannot be crossed.

I make this statement strictly in my personal capacity as a grassroots DAP member. It does not represent the official position of Federal Territories DAP or the party at any level.

*Ben Fong Kok Seng is the treasurer of DAP Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur.

** This is the personal opinion of the writers or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail .

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文章讨论了联邦直辖区赦免委员会可能召开会议，考虑对拿督斯里纳吉·拉扎克予以宽恕。

它强调了尊重宪法程序的重要性，同时指出如果纳吉布没有服满足够的刑期就被释放，民主行动党（DAP）将面临怎样的困境。

这凸显了民主行动党对廉洁治理的承诺，并暗示，如果纳吉布获释，为了坚持原则，他可能需要辞去内阁职务。

文章最后将作者的个人观点与民主行动党的官方立场区分开来。

9月10日——过去几天有报道称，联邦直辖区赦免委员会将于本周五召开会议，预计会审议拿督斯里纳吉·拉扎克的赦免申请。

无论事实是否如此，宪法程序，包括最高元首的权力，都必须得到充分尊重。然而，尊重宪法程序并不意味着我们要放弃我们的政治原则。

在最近的党代会上，民主行动党代表明确授权领导层继续执政至本届国会任期结束，这一决定必须得到尊重。然而，这一授权是基于当时的具体情况而作出的。

如果纳吉布未经适当惩罚便获释，而这些惩罚与其罪行的严重程度并不相称，那么情况将发生根本性改变。在我看来，届时民主行动党将无法继续留在内阁。这是我们绝不能逾越的红线。

纳吉布在SRC国际案中的定罪被联邦法院维持原判。随后，高等法院又以涉及1MDB资金的另外25项罪名判处他15年监禁，不过该判决目前正在上诉中。

如果纳吉获释，民主行动党将难以与其长期以来对廉洁政府、体制改革和问责制的承诺相协调。问题的关键不在于宪法程序的合法性（宪法程序必须得到尊重），而在于纳吉继续留在内阁是否会损害该党一贯坚持的原则。

因此，我赞同民主行动党副主席倪可敏此前表达的立场，即如果纳吉布未经适当刑罚就被释放，他准备辞去内阁职务。

退出内阁并不意味着马达尼政府将会垮台。民主行动党可以在内阁之外继续支持政府，以维护政治稳定，并推动体制改革，例如限制首相任期以及将总检察长和检察官的职位分开。

但稳定不能成为接受一切的借口。政治领导人必须认识到，有些底线是不可逾越的。

我仅以基层民主行动党党员的个人身份发表此声明，并不代表联邦直辖区民主行动党或该党任何层级的官方立场。

*方国胜是民主行动党吉隆坡联邦直辖区的财政。

**本文仅代表作者或出版方的个人观点，并不一定代表《马来邮报》的观点。

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