KUALA LUMPUR – Umno personalities have taken to social media to express their distress over the Federal Court’s decision to uphold former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s guilty conviction in the SRC International Sdn Bhd corruption case.
Reminiscing on Najib’s prior good deeds, the party leaders appeared saddened by the court’s ruling.
Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said that Najib had always reminded him to prioritise the public, stating that Najib’s main slogan had always been “#RakyatDidahulukan (citizens first)”.
“(Najib’s) 1Malaysia fight (was for) harmony among all races in the country and the nation has advanced with high-earning citizens. The good fight will continue,” he said in a Facebook post, where he also shared a recording of a visibly distressed Najib outside the court complex today.
In a separate post with photos of Najib’s recent “solat hajat” (special prayer held for specific requests) ceremony, the Pontian MP passed his well-wishes to Najib and his family, stating that he will always remember Najib’s decision to award him a ministerial post.
“(Najib) is the son of a (former) prime minister but he elected me, the child of a rubber tapper, to be a deputy minister and I will never forget this,” he said.
“(Najib’s) case will continue to be considered. The public is also passing its own judgements. I hope that (Najib) and his family will continue to remain strong.”
Expressing similar sentiments, Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said on Facebook that the situation regarding Najib’s conviction being upheld has caused him much dejection.
“I am saddened by this situation. May Allah grant Najib and his family fortitude,” he said, adding that regardless of the events that have transpired, Najib had once provided great contributions.
Fellow Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Md Alwi Che Ahmad had also commented on Shamsul’s post, affirming that Najib had contributed his fair share of positive deeds to the nation.
“He has done a lot of good deeds. We highly appreciate that. May Allah give him strength,” he said.
Despite the apparent outpour of support and grief for Najib in the comments sections of the posts, top Umno leaders have yet to publicly issue statements on the matter, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who is also Umno vice-president.
Earlier today, Najib became the first former Malaysian prime minister to serve jail time, following the apex court’s decision to uphold the high court’s previous ruling that Najib was guilty of all seven charges in his case.
In addition to his 12-year sentence, the Federal Court also upheld the RM210 million fine imposed by the high court on Najib.
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.
Subsequently, Najib’s daughter Nooryana Najwa Najib took to Instagram to vow that “Bossku” does not end here.
Frequently cheered by his supporters, the “Malu apa Bossku” slogan is part of Najib’s social media persona rebranding after the Barisan Nasional regime that he led was toppled in the 2018 general election.
Making known her disappointment in the judgement today, Nooryana implied that Najib was doomed to lose his final appeal and promised to not give up until her father is “safely back with us and justice is served.”
“I’m sorry daddy. Maybe we didn’t fight hard enough. Maybe we placed our fullest trust in the justice system. Maybe we believed whole-heartedly in our cause and purpose so we stood defiant these past four years,” she said.
“You did not get your day of justice today, nor did we stand a fighting chance.”
She added that their family is proud of Najib’s strength during the trial, saying that she will hold onto her father’s words of wisdom: “They can control everything, but they cannot control your emotions and strength of mind.”
Najib’s son, Mohd Nizar Najib, had also uploaded a brief message on Facebook, saying: “Deeply saddened but unbowed and undefeated.” – The Vibes, August 23, 2022
