JAILED former prime minister Najib Razak is a victim of political persecution and never called for his corruption cases to be dismissed, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today.

According to Zahid, Umno would loudly and firmly state that the prosecution against Najib was political.

“As a witness, I have seen consistently that he held to the position of not wanting his case to be dropped. 

“Yet instead, he wants to clear himself and his family’s reputation in court. What Najib was demanding was simply a fair trial,” he said at the World Trade Centre (WTC) during a special Umno briefing today.

On Tuesday, a five-man Federal Court bench chaired by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat quashed his appeal and upheld his sentence in the SRC International case.

The apex court ordered him to begin his 12-year jail sentence immediately.

In addition to this, Najib will have to pay a RM210 million fine in default of another five years of imprisonment.

Zahid said that what Najib requested is an adjournment to allow his new line of lawyers to prepare thoroughly (for trial) not to drop the case or deliberately wanting to delay the case.  

“What was asked for was allowance for every part of the law to be considered.”

“But this was denied. Therefore, what is wrong if the people start making various assumptions and disputing this kind of prosecution process.”

Zahid said that despite not being legal practitioners, from the people’s arguments and views in the field of jurisprudence, changing judges, asking for a little delay, presenting new evidence, changing lawyers is part of the process in seeking justice. 

“This is not a violation of due process.  On the other hand, it becomes a translation of the principle “justice must be seen to be implemented”.

Zahid said in order to continue Najib’s struggle, Umno needs to take steps whereby every member gives him encouragement by writing messages that will be presented to him.

“Give him words of encouragement, and thanks. The head office will collect it and it will be a letter of the people to Najib who is currently confined.”

“We must be ready, to give support to the royal pardon campaign when the time comes.”

“We leave it to the wisdom of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to evaluate and implement it.” – August 27, 2022.