SUPPORT for former prime minister Najib Razak is still strong despite the small number of supporters that showed up at court, where the former prime minister claimed trial to tampering with the auditor-general’s report on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) earlier today, said Umno member Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz.

He said a lot of cases involving Najib are being heard in court and it would be impossible for supporters to attend each hearing.

“He (Najib) has so many court cases and too many events. People cannot catch up and have other matters to attend to as well.

“I don’t think supporters can attend every court case because that would be quite difficult. Unless they are free,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Faisal, who once headed Barisan Nasional’s propaganda unit, said that support for Najib is getting stronger, which can be seen from the latter’s Facebook page.

He also said he was absent today as he had prior engagements.

“My absence was not because I do not support him. I believe he and Arul are not guilty,” he said.

Earlier today, Najib and former 1MDB CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy were charged separately at the Kuala Lumpur sessions court for tampering with the audit report.

No more than 30 Umno supporters came to show their support for Najib.

This situation was a stark contrast to when Najib was first brought to court and a large number of supporters swamped the court complex and caused a stir.

Actress Ellie Suriati Omar, a staunch supporter of Najib, was also absent today.

When contacted by The Malaysian Insight, the actress said she did not make it as she was down with a fever.

“I’ll be supporting him once I’ve recovered. I’m definitely a keen supporter of his,” she said.

Najib was represented by lawyer Muhamamd Shafee Abdullah, while N Sivananthan appeared for Arul Kanda.

Both of them posted their bail of RM500,000 each today. It is believed that Najib’s representative posted his bail while Arul’s father-in-law posted the latter’s bail.

With today’s charge, Najib now faces 39 charges. – December 12, 2018.