Harapan, coalition govt will benefit from Najib's release: T'ganu Umno leader

UMNO AGM | Former Umno president Najib Abdul Razak’s release from prison will benefit Pakatan Harapan and the coalition government, a Terengganu Umno delegate said.

Speaking to Malaysiakini today, Setiu deputy division chief Mohd Iskandar Jaafar said Najib, during his tenure as the premier, had left a positive impact on the people’s lives.

“For instance, the direct cash transfer incentives to the people under the Bantuan Rakyat 1 Malaysia (BR1M). He (Najib) knows how to manage the people’s needs.

“I’m confident that if Najib is out (of prison), he can offer valuable insights, which may also benefit the Madani government.

“This will be an added support to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. It will also be a value-added element in the dynamics of this political partnership,” Iskandar said.

Further, he said Najib has the charisma to charm Malay voters and fence-sitters.“We, in Umno, understand that he (Najib) has no ambition to be actively involved in politics, we know that.

“He is still in Umno and Umno is part of the coalition government. Those who do not support any parties still have respect for Najib,” he added.

Najib ‘catalyst’ for BN revival

Earlier, Iskandar reiterated his party’s calls for Najib’s freedom when debating the president’s policy speech at the annual general assembly today.

“Free Najib. The time has come for a serious effort (to free Najib) in accordance with the legal framework of Article 42 of the Federal Constitution.

“We’re not disregarding the power of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the concept of federalism, which separates intervention between the legislative, executive and judiciary.

“Najib will be the catalyst for BN’s revival and Harapan will also benefit from it,” he said.

Najib was jailed for 12 years and fined RM210 million after the Federal Court upheld his sentence and conviction in the SRC International case in August 2022.

He is also on trial for other matters related to the 1MDB scandal.

In February, the Pardons Board cut Najib’s 12-year jail sentence to six and reduced the original RM210 million fine to RM50 million - a whopping 76 percent.

The former prime minister subsequently filed an appeal on July 9 to serve the remainder of his six-year jail sentence as house arrest, alleging that there was a royal addendum order for him to do so alongside his jail time and fine reduction.

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