KUALA LUMPUR – Former Bangi MP, Ong Kian Ming, has expressed disappointment over the “tone-deaf” reactions from certain DAP politicians to the High Court’s decision rejecting former Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s judicial review application for “house arrest.”
The judgment, which dismissed Najib’s bid to serve the remainder of his 12-year sentence for the SRC scandal at home, has stirred intense political reactions. Ong emphasised that the decision, though legally sound, should not be celebrated with inflammatory remarks.
Ong pointed out that Najib, who has already served over three years of his prison sentence, faces serious health concerns that have been voiced by his family. As the only former prime minister to have been imprisoned in Malaysia, his condition should evoke sympathy, he argued, rather than further antagonising the public. “It is not easy for any 72-year-old to serve time in prison, especially one who is from the Malaysian aristocracy,” Ong noted.
Moreover, Ong warned that celebratory statements such as the one issued by Puchong MP Yeo Bee Yin, who posted on social media about the ruling being “another reason to celebrate,” could aggravate tensions in an already divided political landscape.
These remarks, Ong argued, were “tone-deaf” to the sentiments of the Malay community, many of whom, despite disapproving of Najib’s actions in the 1MDB scandal, do not want to see a former prime minister publicly humiliated.
The “celebratory” stance taken by some within the political sphere could, according to Ong, undermine the effectiveness of the Madani government. It may also risk eroding the fragile political alliance between Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional, potentially pushing BN towards a closer partnership with Perikatan Nasional as the next general election approaches.
Ong suggested that it may be time for a serious conversation about the possibility of granting Najib a full pardon. Reflecting on his earlier stance in 2023, when he deemed a pardon for Najib as a “red line” for DAP, Ong revealed that his views have evolved, especially after the Dismissal Not Amounting to Acquittal (DNAA) for Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
This shift in perspective has been influenced by Khairy Jamaluddin’s proposal for a “Grand Amnesty,” which would not only include Najib but also seek to drop charges against other political figures in a bid for a political reset.
“I hope this could be part of a broader effort towards political maturity, where we cease using state apparatus against political rivals,” Ong added.
In the spirit of Christmas, Ong called for forgiveness, acknowledging that while reconciliation should be pursued, it does not mean forgetting past wrongs. “Let us work towards making Malaysia a better place for future generations,” he concluded. – December 23, 2025