No one should feel obliged to help pay RM50m fine, Najib tells supporters as Umno solidarity fund hits RM1m

On September 18, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak secured conditional pardon to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest. This decision has sparked differing interpretations among analysts regarding its impact on efforts to strengthen relations between PAS and Umno. Syaza Shukri, a professor from the International Islamic University Malaysia (UIAM), views this stance as an attempt by PAS to convince Umno's leaders and supporters that the party is genuinely committed to cooperation.

In contrast, Felo Majlis Profesor Negara, Azmi Hassan, sees support for Najib as more politically beneficial for PAS, particularly in gaining the sympathy of Umno supporters who sympathize with the former PM. Syaza notes that while Najib's case may not be the primary issue for PAS, it is significant to Umno, often brought up in party-wide meetings.

"For me, the Najib issue is not a major issue for PAS, whether among supporters or party leaders. In fact, PAS has campaigned for the principle of 'cleanliness.' However, because this issue is important to Umno and frequently mentioned in every PAU, it could potentially bring together both parties," she told FMT. Syaza attributes the difficulty in building relations between the two parties to the challenge of trust, as both parties recognize the need for cooperation but lack mutual confidence.

"This is an attempt to build relations when constituency meetings are still not finished, especially in Melaka," she added. Azmi Hassan, however, does not see PAS's statement on Najib as a factor that can significantly strengthen cooperation between the two parties. Instead, he believes that PAS's stance on Najib could provide political benefits to the party by attracting the sympathy of Umno voters or supporters.

"PAS sees this as a political advantage they can reap from Umno supporters. In this case, I do not see the recent statement from PAS Secretary General Takiyuddin Hassan facilitating a more robust cooperation," he said. Azmi believes that while PAS's support for Najib may help relations between the two parties, it is not the main issue in cooperation discussions.

"It may be said to facilitate (cooperation), but I am sure that in the discussions on cooperation between these two parties, Najib's issue will not arise. The main issue will be the formula for distributing seats, which is the most crucial," he added. On September 18, PAS expressed its conditional support for Najib, acknowledging his completion of house arrest and praising the decision as a significant development for his family and the people of Malaysia.

Takiyuddin Hassan, in his statement, also expressed gratitude and respect to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, for his decision. He stated that Najib, as a former Umno president, can still contribute ideas, perspectives, and experiences for the good of the nation.