Mahathir said the Istana Negara statement last Friday did not state that rallies cannot be held outside the Palace of Justice but simply explained the pardons process as enshrined in the constitution.
He said this meant that his former party could have gone ahead with its rally in solidarity with Najib as it would not have been going against the king’s wishes.
“But what is apparent is DAP’s opposition towards Umno taking part in the rally with PAS. If Umno had gone ahead, it may see itself being eliminated from the government. (DAP chairman) Lim Guan Eng is still a force to be reckoned with.
“The government wouldn’t fall if Umno is booted out, but the fate of Umno leaders could be affected if Umno isn’t in the government.
“Such is the fate of Umno. The security of its leaders depends on its participation in the government. It needs DAP’s support,” he said in a statement today.
Istana Negara had said any proposal for a prisoner to be granted a pardon or sentence reduction must be submitted to the pardons board for consideration.
It said the king holds the prerogative to grant pardons under Articles 42(1) and (2) of the Federal Constitution, based on the advice of the pardons board that he chairs, for offences committed within the federal territories.
The palace said that if any party wished to propose that a prisoner be granted a pardon or sentence reduction, the application must be submitted by the prisoner for consideration by the pardons board at the next meeting.
Umno then announced it was pulling out of the rally, held this morning outside the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya, saying it would abide by the king’s call to respect the royal prerogative on pardons and to abide by established procedures.
PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man slammed Umno, saying its decision contradicted its apparent support for Najib.
On the other hand, Mahathir’s son Mukhriz mocked Perikatan Nasional for rallying support for Najib, saying he had ruined the image of the Malays by being convicted of corruption and was responsible for the fall of Umno in the 2018 general election.
The Pejuang president added that a gathering to support Najib would be an embarrassment to the whole Malay community.