COMMENT | Despite former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s conviction on all four counts of power abuse and 21 counts of money laundering related to RM2.3 billion of funds, a 15-year sentence, an over RM11 billion fine or an additional 10 years in lieu, his pardon will still take centre stage at the Umno general assembly.

That is perplexing, puzzling, and completely over the top for what was once the premier party in the country, which has withered to a state of little relevance with 26 seats in Parliament compared to 109 in 2004, a comedown which looks set to continue.

Does it not matter to this party, which led the independence movement, that what Najib did amounted to the biggest kleptocracy the world had ever known, causing money to be stolen from massive bond issues, a first for this country and an assault on the nation?

Is it okay that billions were not only laundered but also stolen from borrowed funds with express authority given by Najib, who signed off on all the money transfers under the memorandum and articles of association of 1MDB, a supposedly strategic development company which chalked up over RM42 billion in liabilities?

How can you justify billions of ringgit in borrowings but...