During the 2025 UMNO Youth General Assembly at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur, party representatives publicly urged Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, to grant a full pardon to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. The appeal was framed as both a reflection of grassroots sentiment and a continuation of the political legacy of the late Tun Abdul Razak Hussein.
The plea was delivered by Mohd Fakhrul Akhmal Mohamed, Pahang UMNO Youth representative and Pekan division youth chief. He emphasised that the request represented the voices of supporters in the Pekan parliamentary constituency and across the party’s grassroots. Fakhrul described the appeal to the King as the final hope after all other avenues had been exhausted.
“We have tried everything. I no longer know what else can be done. I hope this appeal at the end of my speech will be granted by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” Fakhrul said, invoking the royal title with respect. He urged the monarch to show compassion and mercy, framing Najib’s potential release as a matter of both justice and national reconciliation.
The assembly also highlighted the historical connection to Najib’s father, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, noting that the previous day marked the 50th anniversary of his passing. Fakhrul called on UMNO members to honour the former prime minister’s legacy by defending Najib, presenting the act of seeking a pardon as a continuation of Tun Razak’s service to the party and the nation.
Johor UMNO Youth spokesperson Fauzi Faizal also spoke in support of Najib, highlighting his contributions to the country and urging members to pray for his release. Fauzi, who is Tebrau UMNO Youth chief, said the former leader’s services were invaluable and that his imprisonment weighed heavily on supporters. “So many of his contributions cannot be repaid. UMNO Youth stands behind Najib and will continue to pray for him,” he said, emphasising loyalty to the former prime minister and his family.
Media reports indicated that UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi would outline the party’s next steps regarding Najib in his keynote address at the assembly. The Youth wing’s appeal signals a unified push within the party to seek royal intervention, portraying Najib’s potential pardon as a matter of national interest, party loyalty, and respect for historical leadership.
By positioning the plea within the broader narrative of UMNO’s political heritage, the Youth wing underscored its role as both the voice of the grassroots and the custodian of party legacy, ensuring that Najib’s contributions remain central to ongoing party discourse.
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