FORMER prime minister Najib Razak, who is anxiously awaiting his fate at the Federal Court, told supporters he would accept any decision meted out against him.

Speaking to supporters who had gathered outside the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya since 7am, Najib said that they too had to accept the decision.

“If the decision is against us, we shall accept it,” he told them, amid cries from supporters for him not to say such a thing.

Najib stepped out of the courthouse to speak to his supporters while the court stood down to deliberate his application to recuse the chief justice from the appeal process.

His supporters are convinced of his innocence. 

The Pekan MP is appealing to quash the conviction handed down by High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali, who on July 28, 2020 found him guilty of having illicitly received RM42 million from the former 1MDB subsidiary.

Najib’s lead counsel Hisyam Teh Poh Teik had said last week that he would not be entering an oral submission after he failed to get the trial postponed to prepare for the case.

In a move that would leave Najib without counsel, Hisham applied to recuse himself on the grounds that he did not have enough time to prepare. This too was denied by the court.

Najib next fired his new lawyers Messrs Zaid Ibrahim Suflan TH Liew & Partners, who had replaced Messrs Shafee & Co.

Despite the twists, Tengku Maimun ordered the hearing to proceed.

Najib again emphasised that he was not given a fair trial like the rest.

“I did not get justice nor did I have a lawyer to represent me.

“This is my first time being charged, yet my plea for an extension to make the submission was denied.

“In other cases, some even got their case postponed even up to 70 times but I requested it once and didn’t get it.

“So, we wait for whatever decision will be made. If the decision is against us, I’m sorry.

“But our fight to justice must continue,” he added. – August 23, 2022.