Former DAP leader Ong Kian Ming has urged the party to give Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim an ultimatum to remove UMNO from the Cabinet over the decision allowing former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.
Ong said the move would demonstrate DAP and Pakatan Harapan’s opposition to UMNO’s efforts to seek a pardon for Najib and raise funds to help him pay his RM50 million fine.
He proposed that DAP demand UMNO’s removal before the next Cabinet meeting on Sept 23, warning that its ministers should resign from the Cabinet if Anwar rejected the demand.
Ong, a former Bangi MP who recently left DAP, said the proposal should be accompanied by a credible threat. He suggested that DAP could also consider withdrawing the support of its 40 MPs for the unity government if its demand was not met.
However, he acknowledged that withdrawing parliamentary support would be a riskier move, as it could potentially lead to the dissolution of Parliament if Barisan Nasional also withdrew the backing of its 30 MPs.
Ong argued that the proposed Cabinet ultimatum would make more sense for DAP than simply announcing that its ministers would resign over Najib’s house arrest.
He also pointed to previous remarks by Deputy Prime Minister and UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi challenging Anwar to remove UMNO members from the Cabinet, saying the current situation could provide an opportunity for Anwar to respond to that challenge.
At the same time, Ong said DAP should consider withdrawing from the unity government altogether if 1MDB and Najib’s house arrest genuinely represented a “red line” for the party.
He stressed that such a move would carry significant political risks, including questions over DAP’s continued position within PH.
DAP’s Central Executive Committee was scheduled to meet on Saturday to determine the party’s position and possible follow-up action following Najib’s conditional pardon.
