Umno grassroots cling to Najib as Anwar questions 'obsession'

Summary

• A video on former premier Najib Abdul Razak’s Facebook page shows Felda Kota Gelangi Umno “yearning” for his return.

• Najib is described as a leader who has contributed immensely to the nation.

Umno grassroots are steadfastly refusing to consign Najib Abdul Razak to the ashes of history amid Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s puzzlement over the “obsession”.

A video posted on the former premier’s Facebook page captures the voices of Felda Kota Gelangi Umno lamenting the loss of a leader who has “contributed immensely to the nation”.

After a meeting on Thursday, Felda Kota Gelangi Umno - situated in Najib’s home state of Pahang - passed a resolution urging supporters to keep defending Najib and to continue the fight for justice.

“We hope the voices defending Najib will not cease until he is accorded justice, which was denied to him during the trial.

“Let us continue the struggle to seek justice for Najib,” the resolution declared.

The post was titled: “Akar umbi Umno dan masyarakat Felda rindu, menanti dengan penuh harapan kepulangan Bossku (The grassroots of Umno and the Felda community yearn, waiting with hopeful hearts for the return of Bossku).”

In an interview with Al-Jazeera’s “101 East”, Anwar questioned what he described as an apparent “obsession” with the 1MDB scandal and Najib, who is in prison, while numerous other corruption cases involving billions of lost funds remain unresolved.

The prime minister emphasised that he remains a staunch opponent of the 1MDB scandal and insisted that many other leaders have also been involved in embezzling billions.

“1MDB, one major case is ongoing. It’s ongoing. But these people who have been obsessed with only Najib and 1MDB, I do not share (their sentiment).

“If you listen to them, the only problem in Malaysia is Najib and the 1MDB scandal,” he said.

Defending Najib’s right

In response, Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh, a staunch supporter of Najib, clarified that it is not an obsession but rather a defence of the former premier’s right to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.

On Jan 29 last year, the then Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah issued a royal addendum that reportedly commuted Najib’s prison sentence to house arrest.

This followed the Pardons Board’s earlier decision to reduce the former prime minister’s 12-year sentence and RM210 million fine to six years and RM50 million.

The sentence pertains to the RM42 million SRC International case, involving abuse of power, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering.

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