KUALA LUMPUR – The Pekan Umno division included former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s name among the five candidates it had submitted to the Barisan Nasional (BN) as a potential candidate for the parliamentary seat.
According to Utusan Malaysia, the division’s deputy chief Zamri Ramly, who confirmed the matter, also confirmed that the division did not name any of Najib’s children as potential candidates for the seat.
The seat, he claimed, will be returned to Najib should the latter get a pardon.
“Even if Najib is not allowed to compete, there are no plans to place Najib’s children to contest the Pekan seat.
“Whoever is picked to contest (by the party leadership) will return the seat to Najib if he gets a pardon,” he was quoted saying by Utusan Malaysia.
While Zamri did not reveal the four other names for the Pekan seat, he did confirm that Najib’s eldest son, Mohd Nizar Najib, has been nominated for a state seat instead.
Currently Pekan Umno Youth chief, Nizar could likely contest one of the four state seats, namely Chini, Bebar, Peramu Jaya, and Pulau Manis under the parliamentary constituency.
The Pekan parliamentary seat, an Umno bastion since 1959, was held by Najib’s father and himself, save for 1982 to 1986 when Najib served as Pahang menteri besar.
At present, Najib is currently serving a 12-year jail term after failing to overturn his conviction following a final appeal at the Federal Court in the SRC International Bhd case on August 23.
Since then, his legal team has filed for a review to overturn his conviction and has also sought a royal pardon. – The Vibes, October 13, 2022
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