AHMAD Zahid Hamidi said Umno and its Barisan Nasional partners will not distance themselves from Najib Razak, who has been ordered to enter his defence in the SRC International Sdn Bhd trial.

“We won’t distance ourselves from anybody,” the Umno president and BN chairman told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

“There are no such feelings. When someone is investigated or is undergoing trial, or is asked to enter their defence, Umno and BN’s stance is the same.”

He added that voters will not be influenced by the developments in court, in an apparent reference to the Tanjung Piai by-election on Saturday.

“We are (certain) that court matters will not sway voters’ confidence and support. They know it is being dealt with in accordance with the law.”

Zahid said former prime minister Najib received extraordinary support when he visited Tg Piai recently.

“We will give anyone who wants to help the BN candidate space to explain issues.”

With the campaign period nearing its end, he said, BN will redouble efforts to shore up support for its contender, Wee Jeck Seng.

Meanwhile, Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin said Najib is presumed innocent until the court finds him guilty, and that being ordered to enter his defence does not mean the former prime minister is guilty.

Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the party will not abandon Najib, as the SRC International case is a “personal” matter.

“Najib has said he will not drag Umno into the case. He will fight his case in court. In fact, there are also other leaders involved in court cases. These are personal cases and do not involve the party.”

The opposition leader said Umno will continue to provide its former president with moral support, adding that Najib’s case is unlikely to hurt BN’s chances in Tg Piai as it has nothing to do with the constituency.

This morning, Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali ruled that the prosecution in the SRC International trial has successfully established a prima facie case against Najib.

The 66-year-old accused has chosen to give sworn testimony from the witness stand, after which he will be cross-examined by prosecutors.

The hearing dates have been fixed from December 3 to 19. – November 11, 2019.