Najib's supporters furious with 'cruel' Ismail Sabri

 

For decades, the prevailing perception is that the constitutional principle of separation of powers is open to abuse in Malaysia.

Although Umno’s top leadership has denied asking Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to intervene in their court cases, Najib Abdul Razak’s supporters appeared furious that strings were not pulled to ensure a favourable outcome.

“Betrayal!”

This is how Jalinan Perpaduan Negara Malaysia president Syed Muhammad Imran described the Federal Court’s decision after leading some 300 supporters to submit a memorandum to Istana Negara asking the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to pardon the former premier.

Giving the impression that it is common for the executive to persecute political rivals, the Umno member said he could understand if this happened during Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin’s tenure as prime minister.

“But this is a BN government and the person you betrayed is a BN leader who has contributed a lot to the nation. If (Najib) was not there, Umno would have been destroyed,” he added.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob

So appalled was Syed Muhammad that he even contemplated doing the unthinkable for an Umno member - join DAP.

“Might as well work with DAP. They stand together with their leaders even if they are languishing in prison. Umno is only powerful on social media but is afraid to hit the streets,” he said.

Syed Muhammad said he would quit Umno if party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also facing a slew of corruption charges, and Ismail Sabri refused to secure Najib’s freedom.

He also vowed to bring a larger group of supporters to Istana Negara next week if nothing is done.

“I am asking the prime minister to intervene, or Umno leaders should withdraw their support for this useless government,” he added.

Withdrawing support

Following the Federal Court’s decision to dismiss Najib’s appeal his conviction and sentence in the SRC International case on Tuesday, the former premier was taken to the Kajang prison to serve his 12-year imprisonment.

He must also settle a fine of RM210 million or spend an additional five years behind bars.

Najib had claimed that he was denied a fair trial and lamented that the might of the judiciary was pinned against him. 

Equally livid with Ismail Sabri was former Umno supreme council member and Najib supporter Lokman Noor Adam.

In a Facebook video, he described the Umno vice-president as a “cruel leader” and urged the party to withdraw its support for his coalition government.  

He also suggested that imprisoning Najib and having Zahid convicted would benefit Ismail Sabri, who landed in the prime minister’s seat due to political happenstance.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi

“What we should do is withdraw our support. If you don’t want to sack him (from Umno), at least suspend him. We will see. If he is loyal to the party, he will remain with us,” he said.

After Umno engineered Muhyiddin’s ouster, the latter had also given the impression that the executive could chart the direction of high-profile court cases.

He claimed that Najib and Zahid were upset because he refused to intervene in their respective legal wrangles. The pair denied this. - Mkini