CNA – Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak is among the nominees put forth by the United Malays National Organisation’s (UMNO) division in Pekan, Pahang to contest during the upcoming general election.
According to media reports, Najib, who is currently serving a 12-year jail term, is among the five names put forth for the contest.
“There are no plans to place Najib’s children to contest the Pekan parliamentary seat if he is not eligible to contest,” said Pekan UMNO division deputy head Zamri Ramly. “Instead, whoever is chosen for the seat will return it to Najib if he gets pardoned.”
Najib, 69, was convicted for the misappropriation of MYR42 million from SRC International, a former subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
He was sent to jail on August 23 after the Federal Court upheld the sentence by the High Court when he was found guilty on all the seven charges of criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of power.
Najib filed for a royal pardon and a review to overturn his conviction. Until there is an outcome, he will not be able to run for GE15.
Despite this, Najib’s lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah has been rather vague as to whether his client will seek to stand in GE15.
On Wednesday, Muhammad Shafee declined to reveal whether Najib would seek the prison authorities’ permission to campaign in GE15 or make a bid to be a candidate. On whether any application has been submitted to the Prisons Department, Muhammad Shafee said, “No, I can’t say. You ask me 10 times, I will say the same thing.”
Prisons Department Director Nordin Muhammad told the media on Tuesday Najib will not be allowed to go out to campaign in GE15 as long as he is still serving his jail sentence.
He said as long as Najib is still in prison, he is subject to the Prisons Act and regulations.
Constitutional lawyers told the media Najib is immediately disqualified from becoming an election candidate following the Federal Court’s upholding of his conviction and sentence.
