FORMER prime minister Najib Razak and his lawyers should understand what an appeal to the Federal Court is about.

Even a student who has to appeal to the school board from being expelled would understand what the right posture is when making an appeal.

It is his arrogance that has led to his own downfall. Now, the “cash is king” has to suffer for the next 12 years in jail, and the shame that he brings to the Razak family will remain for many years to come.

Cash is not king

I do not celebrate because he has fallen. I had wished that the son of Malaysia’s second prime minister, Abdul Razak Hussein, would repent of his ways. Now, may he remember that it is not cash but that the “rakyat is king”.

I celebrate because at last, the nation has seen justice being upheld and no one, including the king, is above the law.

If Najib thinks that his cash can buy him what he wants, he is desperately wrong and it may take him the next 12 years to work it out that he was wrong.

Najib should not think that he is invincible. In fact, this should be a warning to all politicians in this country, whether from Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Harapan (PH), that they, too, may face similar fate if they continue with their wicked ways. God is watching!

For 10 years or more, we have been enduring his nonsense, and one lie after another is being spewed out in the open. It took the US Department of Justice to put its findings out to the world and that sealed Najib’s fate.

It is time he reaped what he has sown. He has, after all, not taken care of the people, except his own cronies. The rest of the world was watching Malaysia as Najib continued to play on the people’s sentiments.

I have said before, people in PH went to the ground to demonstrate for Anwar Ibrahim, but when they themselves enter prison, would Anwar stage a demonstration?

Same with Najib’s supporters. If they are arrested by the police for breaking the law, would Najib or even Umno president Zahid Ahmad Hamidi protest against their arrest?

The law is the law. If you break the law, you are the one who have to suffer for it. For this reason, it is about time for Malaysians not to fight for their leaders but for justice to be upheld in the country for the sake of all.

One drama after another

I have been following Najib’s appeal. One drama after another has unfolded, and each time I read the news, I could only sigh, “When can justice be upheld? This guy is holding the nation to ransom.”

Najib has been given too much leeway during the SRC International trial. If he had continued to be given leeway, even the people would give up on the courts.

First, it was his former lawyer, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah. One incident after another that served nothing to help Najib to win his appeal but simply to delay the court process.

Then, his new lawyer, Zaid Ibrahim, was appointed.

I find the lawyer who appeared for Najib, Hisyam Teh Poh Teik’s arguments that the Federal Court had not been fair to Najib to be illogical.

In the first place, Teh and Zaid, upon accepting the new appointment, should not expect the court to bow to their pressure. Instead, as lawyers appearing on behalf of their client, they should have worked round the clock to prepare a strong defence.

As an observer, I, too, find it vexatious to listen to their baseless arguments against the Federal Court.

Applaud the judges

The five judges who formed the bench deserve a round of applause from all Malaysians who have waited patiently for justice to be upheld.

May God continue to oversee the country and these judges that they may continue to be torchbearers for justice in the country! – August 23, 2022.

* Stephen Ng reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.