THE scenes outside the Court of Appeal today was in stark contrast to when the High Court read out the Najib Razak trial verdict in July last year, where a large crowd had gathered.

The crowd was boisterous then but today’s group of about 100 was quite different – other than the occasional shout of Bebas Najib! (Free Najib) before the verdict was read out, they were quiet. 

They were calm after the court decision filtered out to them today.

Some lamented about how the former prime minister had been let down by the system while others remembered how he had helped them while in office.

Rosnah Ila, 41, said that she was not surprised by the verdict as she had expected it.

“We as supporters saw this coming because what is being served today is not what you call justice.

“If this is justice, where is Low Taek Jho, where is (former SRC chief executive officer) Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil and all the other witnesses?” she asked of the financier who was still at large and never brought to book for his role in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal.

Another supporter who did not want to be identified said that Najib did a lot for her and her family and felt he did not deserve this.

“He paid for all my children’s school fees and he has also done a lot for the community unlike the other prime minister.

“I don’t understand why they always attack those who do a lot for the community.

“Now that the court has upheld the conviction and sentences, where do I look for help?” she asked.

Supporter Khalid Ali, 53, from Terengganu said he does not know who to seek help from when he needs it.

“Throughout Najib’s time as a prime minister, he did so much for the community, especially those in the rural areas. 

“Those living in the city might not need the assistance such as paying school fees, food supply and so on but we in the rural areas need it,” said Khalid, who is an odd job worker.

He added that when the Pakatan Harapan government took over, they barely helped those in the rural areas.

Another supporter who wanted to be known as Rafiq said that Najib does not deserve this. 

“For a man who has helped the community and the country a lot, he does not deserve this.

“Even if he is guilty, so are all the other politicians, whether they are the government or opposition.

“So why aren’t they charged? Why is it only Najib who is being attacked?” he asked.

Most of the supporters left the premises once the verdict was given. 

Najib today failed to overturn his conviction and sentence for seven charges linked to the RM42 million of SRC International Sdn Bhd funds at the Court of Appeal this morning.

A three-member bench chaired by Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil delivered its unanimous decision in hybrid proceedings.

Najib was found guilty of seven charges of money-laundering, criminal breach of trust and abuse of power by Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali, in July last year. He was sentenced to 12 years’ jail and fined RM210 million.

In delivering the ruling, Karim said the bench agreed with trial judge Nazlan’s finding that Najib had personal interest for the cabinet to approve a government guarantee for a RM4 billion loan from Retirement Fund Inc to SRC International.

The judge ruled that Najib’s action in relation to the RM4 billion loan to SRC was not for national interest but for personal benefit. – December 8, 2021.