MUDA said it opposes any move to pardon jailed former prime minister Najib Razak, in a statement released today.

The party said pardoning Najib, who was found guilty of multiple corruption charges, would send the wrong message.

“This is the official position of the party, which opposes any move to save a kleptocrat, who has put the country in a difficult financial situation,” Muda said today. 

“Pardoning Najib – who was found guilty of seven charges – will send the wrong message to Malaysians. 

“Will ordinary citizens found guilty of the same crime also be given this privilege?” it added. 

Najib is serving a 12-year prison sentence for money laundering, criminal breach of trust and abuse of power.

He was also fined RM210 million, which he has yet to pay.

Muda said pardoning Najib when he has just started to serve his sentence will send the message that any influential individual does not need to be worry about the law. 

“This contradicts the fundamental principle of the country, which is the rule of law,” it added. 

“Muda will continue to fight any movement that wants to save the kleptocrat, including those who try to challenge the integrity of the judiciary.

Taking a dig at Amanah – which recently apologised to Umno for communications director Khalid Samad asking the king to reject Najib’s bid for a pardon – Muda said it will not backtrack.

“This is the official position of Muda and not the personal views of individuals within the party, and we do not apologise for this stance.”

Last week, Khalid appealed to the king to reject Najib’s pardon bid, saying Amanah does not want the people to lose confidence in the government or the Malay rulers.

Following which, Umno Supreme Council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi said Amanah was not a true friend, despite their respective positions in the unity government.

This prompted a climbdown from Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub.

Amanah president Mohamad Sabu also said Khalid’s call to reject Najib’s pardon application does not represent the party.

On March 31, the Federal Court in a four-to-one decision rejected Najib’s bid to review his conviction and sentence, finding no error on the part of previous judges in the trial process.

Najib had previously lost appeals at the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court. – May 1, 2023.