Salahuddin said Khalid’s view on the matter is strictly personal and does not reflect Amanah’s stance.
“That’s just his personal view and Amanah would like to apologise for our information chief’s statement that has hurt the feelings of Umno. What is important now is to strengthen our position in both the government and society,” said Salahuddin at an open house event here.
Yesterday, Khalid was reported to have urged the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to reject an application by Najib for a pardon and his release from jail. Speaking ahead of the Pardons Board sitting, he said this was the only way to protect the good name of the country.
Salahuddin admitted that politicians sometimes made remarks for publicity’s sake, but should apologise if “we go too far”.
“There’s no shame in apologising and we hope this issue can be resolved as soon as possible,” he said, adding that Khalid will not be disciplined because Amanah has apologised.
Keep personal and party views separate, says Zahid
Separately, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Khalid should learn how to separate his personal opinion from Amanah’s stance.
“I hope he can learn to respect the 19 parties that are working together in the unity government,” Zahid told reporters.
On a related matter, Zahid said he has spoken to Kelantan Umno who had threatened to sever ties with Kelantan Amanah over their disagreement with Najib’s pardon application.
He said the state chapter had threatened to cut ties because “they felt the need to provide a response”. He also advised them against doing anything that could affect the harmony in the unity government.
Yesterday, Kelantan Umno demanded that Khalid, who is Amanah’s communications director, apologise publicly for calling for Najib’s pardon application to be rejected.
It also threatened to not work with the party should Amanah refuse to retract the statement.
Khalid has since apologised, and said he had no intention to upset Umno.
Najib is serving a 12-year prison sentence and was fined RM210 million on charges of abuse of power, money laundering and criminal breach of trust over funds amounting to RM42 million belonging to SRC International.
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