Umno hopes Najib’s conditional pardon will provide boost ahead of Melaka polls

 Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says the development can have a positive impact on the party in the current political landscape.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the party will bank on ‘winnable, acceptable and likeable’ candidates fanning the ‘blue wave currently sweeping across the country’. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Umno hopes the conditional pardon granted to former prime minister Najib Razak will give the party momentum ahead of the Melaka state election, says its president, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Zahid said the development could have a positive impact on Umno as it navigates the current political landscape.

“I hope this will add value (to Umno) in the country’s current political landscape, insya-Allah,” Bernama quoted him as saying at a press conference in Jakarta, Indonesia, today.

Najib was granted a conditional pardon today allowing him to serve the remainder of his prison sentence in the SRC International case under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028, subject to payment of his RM50 million fine.

The legal affairs division of the Prime Minister’s Department said the conditional pardon was granted by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, following the 64th meeting of the Federal Territories Pardons Board today.

Elaborating on the upcoming Melaka election, Zahid said he had given Melaka Barisan Nasional chairman Ab Rauf Yusoh the mandate to hold discussions with any political coalition.

He said Melaka BN would submit its list of candidates for consideration based on feedback from various quarters, with assemblymen who had performed well to be retained where possible.

“We adhere to the principle of having ‘winnable, acceptable and likeable’ candidates who will aid the blue wave currently sweeping across the country,” he said. - FMT