“Make Bossku’s diehards settle plundered 1MDB monies if they want their idol pardoned”

 

SUCH is the message to UMNO loyalists after Datuk Mohd Nazifuddin Najib, the son of incarcerated former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak, equated a landslide Barisan Nasional (BN) victory in the July 11 Johor state election with a signal that the rakyat are still fond of Bossku and want him to be granted a royal pardon.

Commenting on the narrative that BN’s big victory in Johor would lead to Najib’s release, the Langkawi UMNO chief envisages that if this happens it means that not only do Johorians support BN and the state leadership but hopeful of Bossku to make a comeback.

Nevertheless, Nazifuddin who is awaiting a Sept 4 verdict from the Court of Appeal to stay bankruptcy proceedings against him and his father, was realistic enough to admit that BN’s victory in the state election does not mean that Bossku will be automatically released.

“We aren’t electing the Prime Minister. What we want is for BN to win big.” quipped Najib’s second son out of three siblings from his first marriage to Tengku Puteri Zainah Tengku Eskandar in the Bual Bicara Santai programme at the Kampung Melayu II polling district in Kluang on Thursday (July 2) night.

“If BN wins big, what’s wrong if Bossku is pardoned and released? (But) that’s the right of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,”

Backlash aplenty

However, Nazifuddin’s statement did not rest well with Madani backers or those who believe that Bossku is as guilty as convicted by three levels of justice (High Court, Court of Appeal and Federal Court).

Evidence of this is how they swamped the Friends Of BN Facebook post to chastise Nazifuddin’s aspirations of making the Johor state polls as a platform to lobby for his dad’s pardon.

If such is the case, few commenters urged Johorians to unite to inflict defeat on BN so that Bossku can remain behind bars.

“Damn that theory … So can we expect Johor BN loyalists to settle Bossku’s debt?”  fumed one commenter as another insinuated at Bossku’s family living lavishly on ill-gotteen gains.

One detractor hit out at Nazifuddin who himself is as a tax dodger daring to speak out in defence of his father who had been found guilty of having plundered the nation’s wealth. In essence, both are seen as “traitors” rather than national heroes.

Editor’s Note: The 72-year-old Bossku is currently serving a six-year prison sentence in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case. Recall that his original 12-year jail term has been  halved by the pardons board in February 2024 while his RM210 mil fine was reduced to RM50 mil.

The sentence is scheduled to end on Aug 23, 2028.

Additionally, Bossku was also convicted by the High Court of abuse of power and money laundering linked to 1MDB for which he was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment. The former Pekan MP has appealed that decision.

Elsewhere, political analyst and religious scholar Dr Abu Hafiz Salleh Hudin wanted Johorian voters to understand how sins are purportedly cleansed in the name of “Malay Muslim”:

Another righteous netizen urged Johorians to go out full force to vote in the quest “to save Malaysia from this plundering family”.

“Please don’t waste your vote. This is 2018 all over again,” he pleaded on X. “BN menang Rosmah senang (BN wins, Rosmah is happy). So please. Do all Malaysians a big favour. Go back to Johor and VOTE”.

Another lobbied against voting for BN in the Johor state polls next weekend. “Their goal of winning is just to free Najib, not to help the rakyat at all,” warned the cat lover. “You guys are fools if you vote for BN. BN stands for Bebas Najib (free Najib)!” –  Focus Malaysia