KUALA LUMPUR – Disgraced former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak purportedly left a heartfelt letter to his family prior to being sent to prison yesterday evening to serve his 12-year sentence for his SRC International graft conviction.
The letter, posted on his official Facebook profile yesterday evening, saw Najib bidding farewell to his children and grandchildren, following decades of service to the country in which he reminisced on his past as the nation’s leader.
The 69-year-old started the letter by saying that he had taken up a career in politics and public service 42 years ago in 1976, which he described as a “long time”.
Addressing himself as “Daddy”, Najib said he had followed the legacy of his father, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, the nation’s second prime minister.
He said there were both merits and pitfalls in the world of politics and public service, which included planning development, policies and managing the economy, apart from strengthening international relations and resolving crises.
“All of these challenges had brought a smile to Daddy,” Najib said in the note, which was apparently left on his table.
“There are times when the results we hoped to achieve were not as we anticipated. But we try again and again.”
“Looking back, it was a big sacrifice.”
The Federal Court yesterday upheld the high court’s decision to convict Najib of all seven charges in the SRC International corruption case, as well as the 12-year prison sentence meted out.
The apex court also upheld the conviction for the former prime minister to pay the RM210 million fine imposed by the high court.
A five-member bench chaired by chief justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat said the findings of the high court were correct and the defence had failed to raise reasonable doubt.
The police convoy transporting the Pekan MP arrived at Kajang prison at 6.10pm yesterday, having left the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya at 5.30pm.
In the Facebook post accompanied by a photo of the leader and a baby grandchild, Najib said as the years went by, he had worked and attended meetings without being present for his family.
“My years have gone by dedicated to people, public service, politics.
“A sacrifice I chose and I made. A journey that was joyous with your presence but unfortunately I overlooked and could not always be there for you.”
He also said that he held firm to his Islamic beliefs and that he would accept the tribulations as fate.
“My family. My love. This is as far as Daddy can be with you all.”
“We only live temporarily in this world and are resurrected in the afterlife, and together we will be happy again there.” – The Vibes, August 24, 2022