In the wake of the damning 1MDB exposé – as several suspects “fled” overseas to escape the long arm of the law – wasn't the ex-PM left with no other recourse but to remain here to fight and prove his innocence?
History – especially in its unsanitized form – has never been a popular subject among many in this multiracial nation. Is it any surprise, then, that a statement by a prominent UMNO politician relating to a contentious topic would have invoked memories from the not-too-distant past and triggered an impromptu postmortem?
In a recent gathering of several former political bigwigs, the nationalist party's Supreme Council Member, Ahmad Maslan, had reportedly said that ex-prime minister Najib Razak’s courage to face the legal proceedings in court is an indication of his firm conviction that he is innocent of the charges levelled against him.
In what appeared like a reference to the 1MDB financial scandal, Ahmad went on to assert that there are several individuals (linked to the case) who have fled and never came back. However, according to him, Najib – driven by his courage and belief that he is not guilty – was willing to face the court, confident in his innocence.
At the same gathering, which was also attended by Najib's friends and his wife Rosmah Mansor, the UMNO strongman offered prayers for the wellbeing of his ex-party chief while expressing hope that there will be light at the end of the tunnel. He also touched on the subject of the ex-PM's release, where purportedly various methods were being considered – though he did not elaborate further.
However, what some observers would be quick to point out is that Najib has already been convicted in the 1MDB-linked SRC International case and sentenced to 12 years in jail – subsequently reduced to 6 years following a partial pardon. Then, more recently, in the 1MDB-Tanore trial, wasn't he sentenced to a jail term of 15 years and ordered to pay billions in fines?
Based on key court rulings so far, Najib has yet to succeed in his attempts to prove his innocence. News headline and image from The Edge Malaysia.
Still, the ex-premier's faithful supporters may be entitled to express their feelings. After all, isn't it a fact that some of the “prime suspects” in the shameful mega scandal have fled the country and never returned to answer the charges against them? So perhaps, in their eyes, at least, Najib is the proverbial fall guy.
Nevertheless, the narrative that the ex-PM has remained in the country to face the multiple charges against him, while the others had fled, would have prompted critics to revisit a notable episode from the past – at the height of the 1MDB scandal.
Here is that flashback…
Some might still recall that fateful morning of May 12, 2018 – following the shock collapse of the Barisan Nasional government in the historic 14th General Election – when Najib himself posted on Facebook that he had been barred from leaving the country. Ironically, it was after he had earlier announced plans to take a “short break” to spend time with his family.
Reportedly, this is what the post read: "I have been informed that the Immigration Department has barred me and my family from going overseas. I respect the decision and will be with my family in the country.”
In fact, back then, Malaysiakini had claimed that based on a search on the department's Travel Status Enquiry System (SSPI), Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor were indeed “blacklisted”. The national Immigration Department had also confirmed that the couple had been barred from leaving the country.
Meanwhile, on the ground, dozens of journalists were said to have gathered at Subang Airport that morning. This followed viral posts on social media mentioning that the couple were listed as passengers on the flight manifest of a “private jet” scheduled to leave Kuala Lumpur for Jakarta.
Utter chaos unfolds outside Subang Airport!
With emotions running high in the country, a strong police presence was also seen at the airport as a large crowd had started forming outside. Then news filtered through that the flight was cancelled as it had failed to secure clearance.
News headline and image from The Malay Mail (Pictures by Mukhriz Hazim)
Credit Image: The Straits Times.
For the record, the jet was allegedly scheduled to fly to Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport in the Indonesian capital. However, questions arose when a reputable news portal reported that, according to an airport official, there was no record of such an incoming flight.
Back to the present…
In light of those events, wouldn't his critics now wonder: is the fact that Najib remains in the country to face his endless legal battles strictly a “personal choice” – or is it a consequence of the “flight ban” imposed by the authorities since May 12, 2018?
To be fair to the embattled ex-premier, back then, he did seem to have planned a "short holiday" for a well-deserved respite from all the noise in the country. However, in hindsight, a haunting question lingers: what if that flight had not been aborted that fateful May morning?
Main information source: UMNO Online, The Edge Malaysia and The Straits Times.
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