GEORGE TOWN – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed has not ruled out the possibility that Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak can still become the next prime minister although the Court of Appeal upheld his guilty verdict for his corruption case today.
The two-time former prime minister said that if Najib wins in the next general election, he can once again become a member of parliament and the prime minister.
“The law is inconclusive on this, on whether yes or no. The law does not specify it clearly, but we need to follow the rule of the law. Alhamdulillah! Malaysia may create another record when a convict is bestowed with the position of prime minister,” said Dr Mahathir in a social media post which was uploaded minutes after the Court of Appeal found that the high court was correct to find Najib guilty on all charges involving corruption over SRC International Sdn Bhd funds.
Delivering a unanimous judgment, Court of Appeal judge Datuk Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil said there were no errors in the findings by high court judge Nazlan Ghazali, given that the prosecution has proven elements of the offenses beyond reasonable doubt.
A significant ruling made by the Court of Appeal was that the trial judge had correctly found that Najib had been the shadow director of SRC International.
Slamming Umno supreme council member Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi, who had implied that Mahathir only knows the word “kleptocracy”, Dr Mahathir said that it was untrue as he has often used other words to describe the crime.
“I have also used penyangak (rogue), pencuri (thief) and perasuah (bribe giver).”
Dr Mahathir said that now that the Court of Appeal has ruled to uphold the finding of the high court that Najib is guilty, he (Najib) need not undergo punishment because he would appeal to the Federal Court.
“In this case, it is the judge’s right to decide. There has never been a major crime as big as what was committed by Najib. It is a world record according to the Department of Justice in the United States.
“Those who have committed lesser crimes have never received a stay of execution like what Najib has been given.
“Najib may need to wait up to a year or more for his (appeal) case to reach the Federal Court.
“He is free like an innocent man until then and while he waits it out, he is allowed to remain as a MP and he may contest in the next general election.
“And if Najib wins, he would again become MP and who knows, maybe even a prime minister.
“If that is the case, the rule of law must be respected,” said Mahathir. – The Vibes, December 8, 2021
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