‘Our father’ Najib has been wronged, supporters lament

 

Earlier this morning, Malaysiakini witnessed several police personnel preventing Najib Abdul Razak’s supporters from waiting outside the courtroom where another trial involving the former prime minister is scheduled to be held.

One of the supporters even questioned the police’s authority in preventing them from showing support for Najib.

“The court is the people’s right. Why were we chased away? We weren’t making noise or being a nuisance.

“We only came to show support for Najib. Why deny the people’s rights to support our former prime minister?” asked Radiah Rashid.

The 63-year-old retiree said the only reason they complied with the police’s request was due to the respect they have for the Pekan MP, adding she has no qualms going against the police if she had wanted.

Calling herself an ardent Najib supporter, Radiah claims she had attended the former’s SRC International Sdn Bhd case regularly, including his appeal at the Federal Court.

She and six others travelled all the way from Pahang, Kelantan and Hulu Selangor, Selangor and usually wait at the court complex’s cafeteria during the hearings.

As for today’s hearing, Radiah said she would stay on until the end of the session.

On Tuesday, the Federal Court dismissed Najib’s appeal in his SRC International corruption case involving seven criminal charges. He is now undergoing his 12-year jail sentence.

It is to note that Najib is still facing four ongoing criminal cases which are still at the prosecution stage.

Back in November 2018, he was charged with four counts of abuse of power and 21 charges of money laundering.

Today, Najib was charged with corruption before the High Court involving RM2.28 billion of funds from the scandal-plagued 1MDB.

On what she felt when Najib was sent to prison, Radiah felt like seeing her own family member being jailed.

‘Champion of the poor’

“I think you will understand the feeling if you see your own family member going through similar circumstances.

“Datuk Seri (Najib) is like a part of our family, (it is as if) it’s as if our own father has been wronged.

“This is our way of supporting (him). We are unable to afford monetary support as we only have energy and strength,” she said, stressing that Najib had sacrificed a lot for the country.

Another supporter, who only wanted to be known as SBY, dismissed rumours that some of Najib’s supporters came to show support after getting paid.

“We weren’t asked or paid anything. We came willingly because we want to repay what Najib has done for us in the B40 (income group).

“He has shown more goodwill to us than any other prime minister. So, we are returning the favour with our energy and support.

“Najib is the only prime minister who fights for the rakyat,” he said. - Mkini