The chapter’s information chief Zawawi Othman said Kelantan Umno would consider not working with Amanah for the coming state election should Khalid, who is also interim Kelantan Amanah chairman, refuse to retract his statement.

Zawawi said the Amanah leader’s statement was “offensive to all Umno members”.

Earlier, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had urged all quarters to stop making “inappropriate comments” on the party’s bid to seek a pardon for the former prime minister.

Bernama reported him as saying that the matter should be left to the King to decide as it is his prerogative.

“I do not welcome views from any organisation, what more friendly political parties, making inappropriate comments,” he was quoted as saying.

He was asked to comment on Amanah earlier calling for Najib’s pardon application to be rejected. Amanah is a member of Pakatan Harapan, which is a partner of Umno in the unity government.

In response to Zawawi, Khalid said there was no need for him to apologise or retract any statements as he was only conveying the party’s stance on the matter.

“No need (to apologise and retract). That was Amanah’s stance (disagreeing with Najib’s pardon) and not my personal stance,” he told FMT.

Asked on Kelantan Umno seeking to halt cooperation with Amanah if no apology is made, Khalid said he hoped it would not come to that.

“We respect Umno’s right to seek a royal pardon (for Najib) and do not object to them making an application. But surely, they know we don’t see eye to eye on this matter (Najib receiving a pardon).

“Nonetheless, we’re confident that they will prioritise our shared fight against racial and religious extremism,” he said.

Najib is serving a 12-year sentence and was fined RM210 million after being convicted of charges of abuse of power, money laundering and criminal breach of trust over SRC International funds amounting to RM42 million.

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