Najib's arrest is 'political vengeance' by Dr Mahathir, says aide

Updated 7 years ago · Published on 3 Jul 2018 11:38PM · 11 Comments

Former prime minister Najib Razak, who was arrested this afternoon, faces charges under the Penal Code and anti-money laundering law. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, July 3, 2018.

NAJIB Razak’s arrest was expected, and is “political vengeance” by the Mahathir government, an unnamed spokesman said tonight, hours after the former prime minister was picked up from his residence.

The spokesman said Najib will contest the charges and clear his name in court.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission will take him to court tomorrow, to face charges under the Penal Code and anti-money laundering law.

“The arrest of Najib Razak by MACC today was to be expected, as since taking over the government, the Pakatan Harapan leadership has delivered the guilty verdict against the former prime minister in public.

“The SRC International charges against Najib tomorrow, as well the ongoing 1Malaysia Development Bhd and Anti-Money Laundering Act investigations against him, are politically motivated and the result of political vengeance by the PH leadership under Dr Mahathir Mohamad,” the spokesman said in a statement issued to the media.

SRC International was a unit under 1Malaysia Development Bhd that had part of its funds transferred to Najib’s personal bank accounts. The transfers were exposed exactly three years ago by global financial daily The Wall Street Journal.

“Najib will contest these charges and clear his name in court.

“Insyaallah, the truth will prevail,” said the statement.

Najib’s personal lawyer, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, was tonight at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya, where his client is being kept.

Najib was Malaysia’s sixth prime minister, from April 2009. He was booted out of office in the May 9 polls, in an unprecedented, but bloodless, change of power.

He is the first Umno leader to lose a general election, and the first son of a prime minister to hold the same job. His father, the late Abdul Razak Hussein, was the nation’s second prime minister, who expanded the original Alliance coalition to include other parties under the Barisan Nasional pact.

Najib’s defeat in May helped break up BN, which is now left with the original three parties of the Alliance: Umno, MCA and MIC.

The government under Prime Minister Dr Mahathir had promised to investigate the 1MDB scandal during the 14th general election campaign.

Dr Mahathir was Najib’s mentor, but turned on him after GE13, saying the younger man’s “cash is king” policy was bad for the country.

Dr Mahathir was Malaysia’s longest-serving prime minister, from 1981 to 2003. – July 3, 2018.

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Comments

  • Mahathir cannot do it all alone, it is the rakyat.

    Posted 7 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Call it whatever you want buddy. One thing for sure. The Rakyat is very very happy.

    Posted 7 years ago by Groundbreaking Views · Reply

  • Salah tetap salah. All the world knows he's guilty except for this idiot aide. The rule of law must be all applied to everyone

    Posted 7 years ago by John Nabu · Reply

  • 4th of July is America's independence day. Tomorrow will be Malaysia's rid-of-kleptocrat day! Ready the fire crackers and popcorn!

    Posted 7 years ago by Ryan Li · Reply

  • What a fall from grace. within 60 days of your defeat.
    You have lost it all. No matter what you say or do, your guilt remains in the eye of public.
    Eat well, sleep well and stay strong, because you will be on the wrong side of the "wall".

    Posted 7 years ago by Guna segar · Reply

  • Dedak money taken so do a showlah

    Posted 7 years ago by Sarky Subramaniam · Reply

  • To the ass lickers and apple polishers this is vengeance. But to the majority of the rakyat this is rule of law and justice seen being carried out. Understand?!

    Posted 7 years ago by John Lim · Reply

  • Unnamed spokesman, be a Man show your identity, Rest assured Najib era is over, freedom of speech bro. No more c1 c2 c3 c4.

    Posted 7 years ago by John Emilio · Reply

  • Actually NO. Everyone I talked to ASK - WHEN IS IT ROSMAH'S TURN?? They are more interested in Rosmah then Najib. So Mahathir has little political milleage to gain persecuting Najib but if Rosmah is not thrown in, then Mahathir and PH will lose political capital

    Posted 7 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply

  • UMNO lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah? UMNO title says it all!

    Famous for involvement in both Shaariibuu Altantuya murder case and imprisonment of Anwar Ibrahim apart from that 9.5million golden hand shake for services rendered! Said to come from 1MDB

    https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/4670

    So a crook helping a crook, very apt - maybe charge Shafee at the same time??

    Posted 7 years ago by Bob Archie · Reply