Pulled in different directions
He might be in jail but this former umno president still wields enough influence to threaten party unity.
FOR political analyst Dr Mazlan Ali, Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s latest legal action – seeking to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest – is a manifestation of Umno’s internal problems.
Mazlan believes that behind Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s affidavit in support of Najib’s application is an attempt to harmonise the party.
He explained that there are two groups in Umno: those who support Najib and want him freed from his corruption charges and those who do not defend or want to help the former prime minister and party president.
“When Zahid came out with the affidavit, it was to show that he was concerned and was not ignoring Najib’s legal plight. There have been accusations that the Umno president does not care about Najib,” said Mazlan.
“The affidavit implies that Umno will see that Zahid and Najib are together and that Zahid has not abandoned Najib.”
Mazlan said Zahid is trying to strengthen a divided Umno.
“It is as if Najib can break Umno, as there are views that his support in the party is still strong, and there is pressure on Umno leadership to fight for his release from court cases.” The political analyst said that after Ahmad Zahid released the affidavit, everyone is watching to see if it will help eliminate worry and uneasiness in Umno that the party leadership does not care about Najib.
“If he can do that, Zahid will be able to unite Umno,” Mazlan said.
Last Monday, Najib, who has been jailed for offences linked to the misappropriation of funds from SRC International Sdn Bhd, filed a judicial review application, claiming that there was an addendum order by the then
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Yang di-pertuan Agong in the royal pardon granted to him on Jan 29, that he be allowed to serve his prison sentence under house arrest.
Pokok Sena Umno youth chief Mohd Farhan Ahmad pointed out that the Umno grassroots is solidly behind Najib.
“The majority wants Najib to be released. Najib has a big influence with the grassroots compared with any other Umno leader,” he said.
“It is a split between the grassroots and some in the party leadership who are seen as not doing much to help Najib.”
What’s the mood like in his Umno bubble regarding Najib’s appeal to serve under house arrest?
Mohd Farhan replied that, ”My bubble – I’m a division youth chief – is made up of Umno youth, and they’re looking forward to Najib getting to serve his term under house arrest.
“They are also excited that Zahid, the Umno president, is the main person to submit the affidavit,” he said.
However, Mohd Farhan noted that the mood was mixed, as his bubble had previously thought that Najib would win the misappropriation of funds case or that he would receive a full royal pardon.
“But that did not happen. They are worried the latest case is just a political drama,” he said.
“Before Najib was sentenced to jail, there was talk that he would win his appeal. Najib lost. And there was talk that a royal pardon would free Najib. But that did not happen.”
Mohd Farhan said the grassroots compared how fast PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was released after Pakatan Harapan fulfilled its promise to free Anwar if they won the 15th General Election.
“But that did not happen with Najib,” he said.
Mohd Farhan is also concerned that some Umno leaders are staging a political drama to show that they are doing what the party grassroots wanted: to release Najib from jail.
“It seems that previously there were leaders who only talked about it. We judge them by their action. Nothing happened and it looked like their talk was like a wayang [show],” he said.
Mohd Farhan warned that if the unity government did not fulfil its promise to release Najib from jail, Umno –especially its youth movement under its chief, Dr Akmal Saleh – would pressure Anwar and Zahid to heed the party’s grassroots’ demand.
“We are not going to stop. We will pressure until Najib is freed,” he said.
Mazlan warned that Najib is still influencing Umno.
“If he did not, this [the house arrest appeal and Ahmad Zahid’s affidavit] would not have come up. It has become a big issue.
“There is a group in Umno fighting for him. If Zahid can’t tackle this issue, Umno might split,” he said.
Will Umno crack if Najib is not released from prison?