By R. Nadeswaran
Like before the general election in November last year, the “justice for (former premier) Najib Abdul Razak” juggernaut chugged into town. The election for six state assemblies is scheduled for Aug 12 and the same old song is being sung.
While it is aimed at Umno members, it is seen as a huge, powerful, and overwhelming force and a tool of extraction.
On July 13, Pertubuhan Jalinan Perpaduan Negara Malaysia chairperson and Kampung Melayu Batu Caves Selatan Umno branch chief Syed Muhammad Imran SN Syed Abdul Aziz said several Umno members were disappointed with party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and division leaders for not standing up for justice for Najib.
And for good measure, there was a veiled threat – Umno voters may shift their support to Perikatan Nasional in the state elections.
This, he said, is because the supporters are disappointed with the treatment of the unity government towards justice for Najib, which he claimed was not upheld.
(Najib was fined RM210 million and is serving a 12-year jail sentence over the misappropriation of RM42 million of SRC International funds.)
What justice is he talking about? Why are there still pockets of people calling for justice as if Najib was wrongly convicted?
The answer lies with Zahid, Mohd Puad Zarkashi and some Umno leaders who have been vocal over the past few months - selling the idea of “seeking justice”.
At the Umno general assembly last month, Zahid expressed the party’s unwavering commitment to push for his release.
“I want to emphasise that the mandate from all divisions and the supreme council remains committed to defending Najib and ensuring that he receives fair justice,” he was quoted as saying.
Why are Zahid, Umno leaders et al promoting this narrative that Najib is innocent when the High Court convicted him and appeals to the Court of Appeal (which described him as a “national embarrassment”) and the Federal Court were dismissed?
They seem to ignore that the nature of his crime is unprecedented and that the conviction and sentence are reflective of the seriousness - large sums of people’s money being misused.
Stop misleading public
Wasn't Zahid the same man who was full of praise for the High Court last September when he was acquitted of 40 bribery charges in the foreign visa system trial?
“From the very first day until the decision, I remained confident that the judge thoroughly scrutinised the law and its execution. Today, we have witnessed that the law has been upheld for the sake of justice and I am grateful,” he said after his acquittal.
In a previous column, I wrote: “Fast forward to the Umno General Assembly over the past three days… Zahid was previously all praises for the court system when he was cleared but these days, he painted a different picture - demanding Najib be given “fair justice” - whatever that means.
“Is he telling Umno members (and Najib’s family) that the former prime minister did not get a fair trial? Or can this be viewed as ‘intimidation’ of judges who are hearing his case and the prosecution’s appeal against his acquittal?
“Zahid should stop misleading the public especially Umno members by giving false hopes and instead tell them the bitter truth – the legal processes are over and no one can interfere with the punishment that has been meted out.
“By his own admission, the judiciary is beyond reproach and the criminal justice system must take its course. Zahid must be honest and brutally frank and say: ‘I cannot do anything to get Najib out of jail’.”
That may be a tall order for a politician like Zahid who was at one time Najib's erstwhile deputy and publicly declared that he met the Arab prince who donated the money.
But that bluff has been called. And this line is no longer in use but may be resurrected when and if necessary.
It is said that the truth always hurts and it is only proper that Zahid as party president be blunt – it is the end of the road because there are no more legal aspects or procedures within the system.
He must also tell them a royal pardon can only be exercised if Najib expresses remorse and apologises for his crimes. By refusing to accept responsibility, there is little chance of a pardon.
This charade of “justice for Najib” must end unless of course it is aimed at undermining the unity government - using the backdoor for Zahid to replace Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister ala the Sheraton Move.
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