A vote for BN is a vote to free Najib, Zahid from criminal charges, ex-Klang MP tells Malaysians

(MMO) – Voting for the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition in the 15th general election (GE15) would be equivalent to voting to free its leaders Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Najib Razak from their ongoing criminal trials, DAP’s Charles Santiago said today.

Charles who had been Klang MP since 2008 but is sitting out the 15th general election made a passionate plea for Malaysians to vote for the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition which he belongs to.

Noting that many issues plague Malaysia, he said the time to make it right is now and asked for PH chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to be given the mandate to lead the nation.

“There are many fence-sitters & others who are frustrated. Am also hearing people say that nothing would change. But every vote counts. So, go out there and vote for Pakatan Harapan.

“I was an MP in 2018 when PH formed the government. PH deserves another chance, as a vote for BN is a vote to free Najib Razak & Zahid Hamidi from their existing charges,” he said in a statement.

Najib, the former BN chairman and former Umno president, is currently serving his 12-year jail sentence in Kajang prison.

Due to his imprisonment over the misappropriation of RM42 million of SRC International Sdn Bhd’s funds, Najib who is the incumbent Pekan MP is not eligible to contest in GE15. He is pursuing an appeal at the Federal Court.

Najib is facing several trials, including over the misappropriation of over RM2.28 billion of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) funds.

Zahid was recently released from his corruption charges in the High Court in Shah Alam, in relation to alleged bribes received from a company awarded a government contract for a foreign visa system. The prosecution is appealing this.

But Zahid is still facing 47 charges in a separate trial in the High Court in Kuala Lumpur, namely 12 counts of criminal breach of trust in relation to over RM31 million of charitable foundation Yayasan Akalbudi’s funds, 27 counts of money-laundering, and eight counts of bribery charges over RM21.25 million in alleged bribes.

Zahid, who is also a former deputy prime minister, is defending his Bagan Datuk parliamentary seat.