Ku Li: Unfair to prevent Najib from airing his views

(The Star) – It is unfair to stop former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak from voicing out his views, said veteran Umno leader Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

He said other leaders were also charged in court, but still managed to hold on to their positions and continue working.

“If we want to talk about image, others also have been charged, but they still hold their positions, and that brings a bad impression.

“How do we measure it then?” he told reporters at the parliament lobby on Wednesday (Aug 15).

Earlier, Najib, who is former Umno president, said he never interfered with the party’s affairs after his resignation.

The former prime minister said his statement was only meant to defend his policies when he helmed the federal government.

Tengku Razaleigh said that as long as Najib was not convicted of any charges, he still remains an innocent man.

“Whether he wants to be active or not, it is up to him.

“There are no rules within the party to stop him from doing so.

“Najib is still a lawmaker, so he can still voice out,” said the Gua Musang MP.

At a separate press conference, Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman also concurred, saying that Umno leaders should not “abandon” Najib by labelling him a liability to the party.

Tajuddin said Najib would only be a liability to the party if he were already found guilty of crimes.

On July 4, Najib claimed trial to a charge of using his positions as the prime minister and finance minister to receive a RM42mil gratification when he was involved in the government’s decision in providing a guarantee for a RM4bil loan from the Retirement Fund Inc to SRC International Sdn Bhd.

He also claimed trial to three counts of CBT under Section 409 of the Penal Code.

On Aug 8, Najib was slapped with another three counts of money laundering, amounting to RM42mil that was linked to SRC International.