Why Najib won’t be released under Anwar’s watch

Najib’s continued incarceration in Kajang Prison is convenient for Anwar.

Murray Hunter

Some scribblings from the hospital bed under the influence……………..

Although former prime minister Najib Razak’s trials and convictions didn’t occur under the current prime minister Anwar Ibrahim tenure, Najib’s continued incarceration in Kajang Prison is convenient for Anwar.

Najib’s imprisonment became political after the Pardons Board halved his sentence in the SRC conviction from 12 years to 6 years, where he is due to be released on August 23, 2028 (earlier with good behaviour, etc.). In addition, Najib’s fine was reduced from RM 210 million to RM 50 million in a 75 percent reduction.

Some USD 4.5 billion was stolen from 1MDB, where this money in some form or other has been linked to Najib. Investigations began in the United States, MENA, and Europe, where a Swiss court just convicted two executives for embezzling more than USD 1.8 billion from Malaysia’s 1MDB funds. One defendant was given seven years, while the other six years.

However, the accused mastermind Malaysian businessman Jho Low is still on the loose, whereabouts ‘officially’ unknown.

Najib is a political issue

Still around one third of UMNO branches want Najib released. The narrative that Najib was just a ‘patsy’ in the whole 1MDB affair prevails in a section of UMNO. Although the group’s influence is waning in UMNO, it still could potentially break up the party.

Some also have the belief that Najib, fondly known as ‘Bossku’ could bring UMNO back out of the wilderness and resurrect UMNO as the party it once was.

There is also talk that all sorts of deals were made between Anwar and UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to free Najib sometime sooner rather than later.

There is a strong feeling that whatever agreement was made, the agreement was not honoured.

 

Najib is seen as an adversary to Anwar, not a friend

Even though there has been reconciliation between Anwar and Najib, it was under Najib’s watch that Anwar was convicted under sodomy 2, after a honey pot sting. Anwar’s appeals were all unsuccessful. It was only in 2018 when Mahathir Mohamed led Pakatan Harapan to victory and ousted Najib from office that Anwar was secured a pardon, PRONTO!

So, the question remains unanswered, how much bitterness does Anwar, a Machiavellian right down to the bones, does Anwar hold against Najib?

Just like an elephant, Anwar never forgets.

This could be a factor accounting for where Najib is still today.

However, the biggest barrier preventing Najib’s freedom is his perceived hero status. Najib upon any release would become the ‘natural’ political leader on the ‘unity side’, which Anwar is not.

A release of Najib would threaten Anwar’s limelight. There is only room for one.

 

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysia Today