KUALA LUMPUR: Muda has invited Dr Zaliha Mustafa to their forum tomorrow, where she will have the opportunity to explain the unity government's stance on Datuk Seri Najib Razak's sentence remission.
Muda secretary-general Amir Hariri Abd Hadi said this forum would offer the public insight into the diverse narratives surrounding Najib's reduced sentence.
"Muda has decided to hold a forum because there are many narratives on Najib's sentence reduction.
"Some said it's the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's sole prerogative (to grant a royal pardon), and there are those who said we are bound under Article 40 of the Federal Constitution.
"We have sent an invitation to the unity government's representative in the Pardon's Board (Minister in the Prime Minister Department (Federal Territories), Dr Zaliha Mustafa, to explain the government's position or stance on this issue," he said at a press conference.
Amir cited Article 40 of the Federal Constitution, which referred to the need for the Agong to accept and act on advice when carrying out his functions under the Constitution or federal laws.
It is understood that Muda's acting president, Amira Aisya Abd Aziz, Parti Sosialis Malaysia's secretary-general, A. Sivarajan, activist and former Batu MP Tian Chua, and a representative from the C4 Centre for Corruption will join the forum at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall tomorrow.
Muda has previously called for Zaliha to be sacked, saying that she has failed in her duty as a government representative on the board and in her recommendations to it.
In an immediate response, Zaliha said Muda's call was "immature" as the Pardon's Board decision was collective.
Muda acting president Amira Aisya Abd Aziz responded that Zaliha deflects from answering Muda's question by labelling them immature.
"Who is immature in dealing with the biggest corruption case in our country? Muda is not the one who has representatives in the Pardon's Board who have forgotten all that Najib did.
"Muda also doesn't have any narratives to defend Najib, and what more, forget the scale of his offence towards the country until we have to bear billions of ringgit in debt.
"So my question goes back to Zaliha. If we want to talk about the issue of maturity in managing corruption in our country, who is the immature one?" she said.
Yesterday, the Federal Territories Pardons Board said Najib's sentence was reduced by half, which will see his release from prison on Aug 23, 2028.
His fine was also reduced from RM210 million to RM50 million.
Najib was sentenced to 12 years in jail after he was found guilty of one count of abuse of power regarding Retirement Fund Inc's (KWAP) RM4 billion loan to SRC International Sdn Bhd and three counts each of criminal breach of trust and abuse of power involving RM42 million of SRC funds.