Those calling for a royal pardon for Najib Abdul Razak should first read through the judges’ decisions in the SRC International case, which sent him to jail.
Opposition leader and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim said the decisions of both the High Court and the Federal Court to convict and uphold Najib’s conviction outlined how this was a clear case of corruption.
“That (requesting a royal pardon) is everyone’s right, but read the judgment first. Those angry at judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali, read his judgment.
“Read what Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat said, that this case is too obvious.
“Read first, how many millions (were taken), which account they went to, how many diamonds were bought. Once we read and know, then we won’t defend (Najib),” Anwar said to reporters today after attending an economic seminar in Subang Jaya, Selangor today.
He was responding to the group of Najib supporters who had yesterday gone to the Istana Negara to hand over a memorandum seeking a royal pardon for the former prime minister.
Anwar also reminded that Najib still has another ongoing “bigger” case related to 1MDB.
“So, wait lah,” he said.
Anwar himself received a royal pardon after Pakatan Harapan came to power back in May 2018. At that time, he had served three years of a five-year jail sentence over sodomy charges which he had long maintained was politically motivated.
He also brought up a Global Financial Integrity report today, which claimed hundreds of millions of ringgit had been misappropriated from the country, as revealed by the Panama Papers and Pandora Papers.
Anwar said this must be investigated so that the corrupt do not think they are safe just because Najib is now behind bars.
“If we look at the reactions towards the sentence Najib received, I see leaders who are very corrupt also saying this is good.
“I think this is quite odd. Corruption is not specific to one person. This was a court matter, but the others should also be investigated.
“I would like to remind those who are very corrupt, don’t think you are now safe just like that and can speak as if nothing happened,” he added.
The Federal Court had on Tuesday upheld the High Court’s conviction of Najib in the SRC corruption case involving RM42 million.
Najib will now have to serve out his 12-year jail term and pay an RM210 million fine. He was escorted to Kajang prison on Tuesday. – Malaysiakini