KUALA LUMPUR – Dr Ong Kian Ming has appealed to Malaysians to exercise compassion, sensitivity and national responsibility in reacting to the High Court decision dismissing Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s bid for house arrest, saying the country should avoid deepening anger or humiliation-driven politics.
Ong said while the legal basis of the ruling is widely accepted and welcomed by those still scarred by the 1MDB scandal, Malaysians must also recognise the human reality behind the situation — Najib is elderly, has been imprisoned for over three years and has family members who continue to worry about his condition.
He stressed that “celebrating” the verdict or mocking Najib serves no constructive purpose and risks fuelling emotions among segments of society already sensitive to political and racial narratives.
Malaysia, he said, does not need further anger or hostility, especially in a political climate already strained by recent issues and heightened community sentiments.
Ong further cautioned that reckless reactions may weaken the current government’s stability and complicate cooperation between Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional, potentially influencing the political landscape ahead of future elections.
In a broader reflection, Ong said Malaysia may someday need to contemplate a larger reconciliation framework – possibly including pardon considerations – as part of a national political reset to build a more mature and less vengeful democracy.
Such a move, he said, would not erase wrongdoing nor rewrite history, but may help Malaysia escape the cycle of political persecution and retaliatory justice that occurs whenever power shifts.
Reflecting in the spirit of forgiveness and renewal, Ong expressed hope that Malaysians could embrace a mindset of healing – forgiving without forgetting – as part of a journey toward a stronger, kinder and more united nation.