No plans to field Najib's children in Pekan - Umno division chief

Umno does not plan to field the children of imprisoned former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak in his Pekan parliamentary seat for the 15th general election (GE15).

Instead, five names from the Pekan Umno division have been put forward, including Najib's, its chief Zamri Ramly told Utusan.

"There are no plans to field Najib’s children to contest in Pekan if he loses the eligibility to contest.

"Whoever is chosen to contest there (will) hand the seat back to Najib when he's pardoned later," Zamri was quoted as saying.

He was responding to reports claiming Najib's son Mohd Nizar, or daughter Nooryana Najwa, could run for their father’s constituency.

Zamri did not reveal the four other names suggested to contest in Pekan for GE15.

While Nizar has not been chosen for Pekan, he is being considered as a candidate for the state seats of Chini, Bebar, Peramu Jaya, and Pulau Manis, Zamri added.

Najib can't contest

A constitutional expert said that Najib is not eligible to contest in GE15.

Universiti Malaysia Pahang’s Wan Ahmad Fauzi Wan Husain explained that the former premier lost his eligibility after being convicted and can only contest if he is pardoned.

"His participation (Najib) as a candidate in any general election or by-election is barred under Article 48(5) of the Federal Constitution.

"Article 48(5) stipulates that anyone sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not less than one year, or to a fine of not less than RM2,000, cannot be nominated, elected or appointed as an MP unless he has received a free pardon," Wan Ahmad told Utusan.

"The pardon plea that Najib has applied for only enables him to finish his previous term as the Pekan MP, and that term ended with the recent Parliament dissolution," he added.

Najib is serving a 12-year jail term at the Kajang prison in Selangor after the Federal Court on Aug 23 upheld the conviction and prison sentence against him for misappropriating SRC International Sdn Bhd funds amounting to RM42 million. In addition, he was slapped with a fine of RM210 million.

The Prison Department recently said that Najib will not be allowed to leave prison to campaign in GE15, as he is bound to the regulations of the Prisons Act, as long as he is incarcerated.

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