Tribunnews reporter, Vitry Wolandari
TRIBUNNEWS.COM, KUALA LUMPUR – The party that oversees former Malaysian prime minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, said on Wednesday it would continue to provide support.
It should be noted that Najib failed in his attempt to appeal the guilty verdict in the SRC International case.
In a statement published by UMNO Secretary General Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, UMNO President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi emphasized that the party was disappointed that Najib was not given the opportunity to defend himself with new evidence or time to prepare.
“For UMNO, yesterday’s Constitutional Court ruling cannot erase Najib’s great service as prime minister who made Malaysia a beacon of success and progress for Malaysia, before being overshadowed by the failure of two governments after the 14th general election,” Zahid said.
The UMNO party is part of the Perikatan National Government, one of the two governments it alludes to.
Read also: Najib Razak can ask for a pardon from the kingdom, but he must first be subject to a prison sentence
He also added a letter to the United Malaysian National Organization (UMNO) calling on fellow party members to remain calm and advance an agenda focused on correcting existing weaknesses in Malaysia’s justice system.
Meanwhile, Zahid said on Tuesday that Najib’s fighting spirit would not abate and that UMNO’s struggle remained “really emotional”.
Ahmad Zahid himself is currently facing 47 charges, including 12 charges of breach of trust relating to RM31 million funds from Akalbudi Charitable Foundation, 27 charges of money laundering and 8 charges of bribery.
Both Ahmed Zahid and Najib are part of the so-called “court group”.
This “court group” is a general term used to unite UMNO leaders who are facing criminal charges.
Read also: Online petition calling for the king of Malaysia to refuse to pardon Najib Razak
Najib has failed in his final appeal against the guilty verdict of the Malaysian Supreme Court on Tuesday.
This led the Federal Court to order him to serve a 12-year prison sentence.
In addition to this, he was also fined 210 million MYR.
Najib was found guilty of 1 count of abuse of power, 3 counts of breach of trust and 3 counts of money laundering.