‘Bossku’ still a force to be reckoned with, says KJ

 

Former prime minister Najib Razak was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment and a fine of RM210 million in 2020 after he was convicted on seven charges. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: Former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin insists that Najib Razak “is not finished” in Umno, adding that the party’s new Supreme Council line-up consists of numerous “hardcore supporters” of the jailed former prime minister.

Although party president and deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi remains in control of Umno, the former Rembau MP says the “voice from behind prison bars” still plays a key role in determining the party’s future.

Khairy named Kelantan Umno chief Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub, former Baling MP Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim and Lokman Noor Adam as among those in the newly-elected 25-member Supreme Council who are strong supporters of Najib.

He also named the party’s information chief Isham Jalil, Najib’s former special officer, and Johan Abdul Aziz, who was the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Hulu Langat seat in the last general election, as supporters of Najib on the new Supreme Council.

“I feel Bossku’s (Najib) story is not over yet. He is not finished,” said Khairy in an episode of the “Keluar Sekejap” podcast with former Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan.

“Listeners know I was critical of Bossku after we (BN) lost (the 14th general election) in 2018, but, I’m saying Bossku is still a force to be reckoned with.

Khairy, who was sacked from the party in January, said Najib still had some influence based on the new Supreme Council lineup.

“It’s not so much Zahid who is influencing Umno, but Zahid and Bossku. So, that’s why I say Bossku is not done yet.”

Najib was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment and a fine of RM210 million in 2020 after he was convicted on seven charges brought against him for abuse of power, money laundering and criminal breach of trust over SRC International funds amounting to RM42 million.

His conviction was upheld by the Court of Appeal in December 2021 and affirmed by the Federal Court last August. He is currently serving his sentence at the Kajang prison.

Despite that, Khairy said Najib remains a popular public figure, noting that numerous messages of gratitude poured in for the former prime minister last week when the MRT Putrajaya line – which Najib mooted when in power – was fully launched. - FMT