UMNO AGM | An Umno delegate in his debate of the presidential address today moved to defend party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi against allegations - including from within their own ranks - that the fate of former president Najib Abdul Razak, who remains behind bars, has been forgotten.
To Zahid’s critics, Selangor Umno delegate Hasnal Rezua Merican Habib Merican issued a pointed reminder.
”Those who accuse the president of already having a comfortable seat, of forgetting friends, of forgetting how to save Bossku - and who even think it’s better for Bossku to rot in prison (so that) our political future looks brighter - please repent,” he said in Dewan Merdeka, World Trade Centre.
“Don’t be more ‘Bossku’ than ‘Bossku’,” stressed Hasnal (above), using Najib’s moniker among his loyal supporters.
Hasnal reiterated that Najib himself has placed his trust in Zahid, who earlier today also repeated Umno’s appeal to Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, for the king to grant Najib leniency.
The Selayang Umno chief went on to cite Najib’s remarks made to him as one of the few individuals permitted to visit, apart from the former premier’s lawyers.
“When I met him (Najib), we shook hands, exchanged pleasantries for two minutes, and after that Najib said, ‘I know Datuk Seri Zahid, (Selangor Umno chief) Megat Zulkarnain (Omardin) and the Umno leadership are working very hard to obtain justice’.
“That was what Najib told me,” said Hasnal, who is also a lawyer.
“So let us together place our trust in Zahid, if Bossku places his trust in Zahid,” he said.
Hoping for king’s compassion
Najib is serving the remainder of his jail term for a 2020 corruption conviction linked to the SRC International case.
He has also been sentenced to another 15 years in jail for 1MDB-linked corruption charges.
Apart from Hasnal, Kedah delegate Noran Zamini Jamaluddin also expressed a similar hope for Najib’s freedom, through the king’s compassion after Zahid’s appeal.
In his policy speech earlier today, Zahid denied allegations that he is aligning the party with the Madani government to save himself while sidelining Najib.
Last week, Zahid was completely cleared of his 47 Yayasan Akalbudi corruption charges. The no further action (NFA) decision by the Attorney-General's Chambers came days after he rejected a push for Umno to join the opposition.
Previously, he was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) in the case 10 months after he was appointed as deputy prime minister in the Madani cabinet.
‘My father not abandoned’
Met by reporters later, Najib’s son, Nazifuddin Najib, noted that Umno leaders, party members and friends had never abandoned his father through their efforts to seek “justice” and freedom.
“So those efforts must continue. We have done our very best, and we know that hope lies in the authority of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
“We hope that with the king’s wisdom, he will be able to make a decision that will help and bring about a positive impact,” he said.
“As for what will happen next, there is no new petition.
“It will follow the usual process. What happens after this depends on the king’s decision,” he said. - Mkini
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