Pahang Umno ready to replace Najib in Pekan if needed

Umno Pahang has indicated its readiness to face "any possibility" that will follow the outcome of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's ongoing trial verdict.

When contacted, Pahang Umno information chief Syed Ibrahim Syed Ahmad said the party will not have a problem in terms of its line-up of candidates for the 15th general election, including replacing Najib in Pekan, if needed.

"We have many candidates who can stand in Pekan, not just Najib.

"Pahang Umno has no issues in terms of candidates. Pahang Umno is also ready for all possibilities," Syed Ibrahim told Malaysiakini.

He said this when asked to comment on speculations that Najib's eldest son, Mohd Nizar - now Pekan Umno Youth chief - will be fielded to stand under the Parliament seat in GE15.

According to Utusan Malaysia, Nizar, Najib's son with his former wife - Tengku Puteri Zainah Tengku Eskandar - will be fielded to continue the late Abdul Razak Hussein's legacy in Pekan.

There are four state seats within the Pekan parliamentary constituency - Pulau Manis, Peramu Jaya, Bebar and Chini - and Utusan Malaysia reported that no decision has been made on which of the four BN-held seats will be contested by Nizar.

Syed Ibrahim said he was not aware of the candidacy speculations.

"I didn't hear about it. Pahang Umno also has yet to discuss GE15 candidates," he said, adding that any individual can be proposed to contest a seat.

"Anyone's child can be proposed as a GE15 candidate, not just Najib's.

"Even my child or a child of someone from Perlis can be proposed. There's nothing wrong with that," Syed Ibrahim added.

Speculations on Nizar

Nizar, 44, had served international accounting firm Deloitte for 18 years before joining the Pahang state government as the Pahang Social Action Council's economy and human capital bureau chief.

Speculations surrounding Nizar's status to replace Najib were fuelled following a Federal Court decision to set 10 days beginning Aug 15 to hear the Pekan MP's final appeal to set aside his conviction and sentence in the RM42 million SRC International corruption case.

In July 2020, the High Court in Kuala Lumpur sentenced Najib to 12 years imprisonment and an RM210 million fine for one count of abuse of power, three counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT), and three counts of money laundering linked to RM42 million from SRC.

On Dec 8 last year, the Court of Appeal dismissed Najib’s appeal to overturn the 2020 ruling by the then High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali, who found Najib guilty and imposed the sentences.

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