Puad, an Umno Supreme Council member, claimed that Akmal had even ordered Umno Youth members not to attend the rally, in line with the central leadership’s decision.

He said Umno did not forbid leaders or members from showing up at the Palace of Justice to follow proceedings in the Court of Appeal.

“The notion that Akmal was a ‘hero’ does not arise. The party president and secretary-general attended proceedings on multiple occasions to show Najib moral support.

“Akmal wasn’t there for the rally. He himself warned Umno Youth members against attending the rally despite the initial plan.

“Perhaps some division leaders are upset that the rally was cancelled because they forked out money to book buses and print T-shirts. But at the end of the day, they complied with party orders,” he said in a Facebook post.

Akmal was among the few Umno figures who showed up at the Palace of Justice on Monday, with the other prominent leaders largely from PAS and Bersatu.

In a Facebook post that day, the outspoken Melaka executive councillor said: “Real men show up to be present with the rakyat. They don’t stay in their hotels while manipulating the rakyat.”

The administrator of Najib’s Facebook page had also thanked those who showed up outside the Palace of Justice in solidarity with the former prime minister.

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man meanwhile took a swipe at Umno for deciding not to attend the rally, saying this contradicted its apparent support for Najib.