YOURSAY | After four long years, justice is at hand

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Prosecution’s case made out, Najib’s defence ‘incredible’, ‘inconsistent’, Federal Court says

PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court has held that former prime minister Najib Razak’s conviction on all seven charges preferred against him was safe.

In a unanimous decision contained in broad grounds of judgment and read out by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, the court said: “We are not satisfied that any of the findings of the courts below are perverse so as to warrant appellate intervention from this court.”

Tengku Maimun was referring to the findings made by the High Court when convicting Najib on July 28, 2020 and the Court of Appeal when affirming his conviction and sentence on Dec 8 last year.

Addressing the merits of the case, the chief justice said that the five-member apex court panel had examined all 94 grounds of appeal set out in Najib’s petition of appeal “in great detail”, noting that they disclosed “only two main complaints”.

They were, first, that the Court of Appeal had erred by finding that a prima facie case on all seven charges had been made out, and secondly, that the defence had raised a reasonable doubt on each of those charges.

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Whistleblowing, battling injustice not without return, says C4

PETALING JAYA: An anti-graft body said the Federal Court’s decision to affirm Najib Razak’s conviction is proof that the “arduous” tasks of whistleblowing and standing up to injustice are not without return.

The Center to Combat Corruption & Cronyism (C4) also said that the conviction and sentencing was a “monumental expression of justice” for the nation.

“Najib’s sentencing has reaffirmed trust in the judicial process and has brought new optimism for a better Malaysia,” it said in a statement.

It added that the decision also served as a “striking” message that those who abused their power for self-enrichment, manipulated public institutions to conceal wrongdoing, and impoverished the public with their greed could never outrun justice.

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YOURSAY | Verdict a turning point for Malaysia

Vijay 47: Malaysiakini’s live headline says “Federal Court upholds Najib's conviction, sentence”. Strangely, having followed the whole process closely, I do not find reason for wild celebration, yet much that evokes sorrow.

Nevertheless, to repeat the most popular line of recent days, Najib Abdul Razak, “you did the crime, you do the time”.

For four long and often dreary years, all we were treated to was 1MDB, SRC, Najib Razak, his trial, and the antics of his legal team. We often wondered whether the conclusion we hoped for would ever come to pass, after all, a former prime minister had never before been charged with corruption.

The first blinding ray of assurance was the damning verdict by judge Nazlan Mohd Ghazali. He left no doubt as to his outrage at the misconduct and misappropriation that one man could wreak to the extent that the accused was a “national embarrassment”. And in turn, the Court of Appeal to a man agreed with the High Court judge.

In a way, the proceedings at the Federal Court were a let-down. Where we expected a clash of sharp legal minds, we witnessed the defence team meander within the three-ring circus it created while the prosecution patiently bided its time. And that time finally came yesterday.

I will readily accept the excesses that Najib indulged in, after all, it was 12 years of his freedom that was at stake. Even the makciks weeping and wailing were not unexpected. But his defence team?

Unless it was acting wholly on the convict’s explicit instructions, it could be alleged that they were negligent in properly attending to their client’s best interests.

At the tail-end, legalities were dispensed with and instead we saw dancing bears and tightrope walkers, and frequent displays by clowns.

Lawyer Zaid Ibrahim’s contribution to the Najib cause was monumental in its failure, he was the monkey that used the cat’s paw that was a bewildered Hisyam Teh Poh Teik. You should have stayed home, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah - by venturing into the pits at the last lap, you only sullied further your reputation.

And to think that today’s outcome was achieved by one resolute woman!

Man on the Silver Mountain: The trial case has ended and Najib is found guilty. He had tried everything to defend himself, including divine intervention.

The crime, however, was committed and that could not be denied. He did not deny it, he admitted it. He only claimed that he did not know that he committed the crime. His defence was so incredibly unbelievable that it insulted our intelligence.

That in a way caused some fear - if people could be this unbelievably incredibly twisted in their reasoning as the defence of Najib was, perhaps maybe the judges would go along. The trial judge did not and the rest of the appeal judges kept their focus on point of law, not to be distracted by Najib’s antic to scuttle the court process.

Today a criminal, who once held the highest office in the country, was found guilty of abuse of power, breach of trust and money laundering. He is sent to jail for 12 years and has to pay restitution to the amount of RM210 million.

Finally, justice has been meted out. And rightly so. In the midst of the gloom that the nation has been experiencing, today is a great day to lift up our spirit. There are indeed still good men and women in the country to see that justice prevails.

This year’s National Day would be one where the flying of the national flag, the Jalur Gemilang, would make us proud once again.

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Letter – ‘Cash is king’ finally debunked as truth prevails in Malaysia – J.D. Lovrenciear

INDEED the nation is jubilant with relief following the closure of the SRC scandal involving Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

His imprisonment proved that cash is not king, and that truth is the only and ultimately champion.

Speculations of a royal pardon will never materialise, because the Malaysian justice system has survived the long, arduous and treacherous road taken by the convicted felon.

And Malaysians are confident that our monarch will also uphold truth and justice to protect the reputation of a nation that has still a long way to go to navigate out of systemic corruption.

Truth not only survives, but will also ignite new vigour to combat all crimes against humanity and the desecration of religious teachings.

Hence, Malaysians celebrating the closure of this SRC trial remain hopeful that justice will soon catch up on the 1MDB scandals well as the Altantuya murder, to name a few.

With hope for a better nation restituted, celebrating Merdeka come August 31 takes off on a higher note.

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Najib can apply to King for clemency, says ex-AG

KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Najib Razak could write to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for clemency over his conviction and sentence in the SRC International case, former attorney-general (AG) Abu Talib Othman said.

“It is up to him (Najib) when he wants to make the application. This is not an appeal but merely an administrative procedure,” said Abu Talib, who served as the AG from 1980 to 1993.

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Najib’s case political persecution, claims Umno leader

PETALING JAYA: An Umno leader has claimed that the Federal Court’s decision to uphold Najib Razak’s conviction and sentence in the SRC International case is the result of political persecution.

Umno Supreme Council member Arman Azha Abu Hanifah alleged that the former prime minister was not given a fair trial to defend himself, noting that it was a high-profile case.

“We respect the decision but we have stated from the start that justice has to be served. The court should have considered all angles before making a decision on such a high-profile case.

“What has happened is political persecution,” he said, adding that Umno leaders now needed to double their efforts to prepare for the next general election (GE15).

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Don’t overreact over Najib going to jail, says Mat Sabu

PETALING JAYA: Amanah president Mohamad Sabu has urged Malaysians against being arrogant or overjoyed about Najib Razak going to jail over the SRC International case.

Mohamad, also known as Mat Sabu, said Najib’s conviction should instead be made a lesson for all to steer clear of emulating the former prime minister by committing small or major crimes.

“We should not be happy when something bad happens to someone. Malaysians must continue looking to build the nation and eradicate corruption, so that Malaysia becomes a prosperous and peaceful nation with integrity, now and in the future.

“Take every catastrophe that happens to others as a lesson for us all. Let’s not be arrogant or snobbish. Instead, let us all seek forgiveness from God,” he said in a Facebook post.

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No royal pardon for Najib, Bersih 2.0 pleads with Agong

KUALA LUMPUR – The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) has launched an online petition pleading with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah not to grant Datuk Seri Najib Razak a royal pardon.

In the petition, Bersih 2.0 stated that Najib had committed a crime against the Malaysian public in his official capacity as prime minister and must serve his sentence to the fullest extent.

“Even if Najib has no shame for what he has done, we the rakyat had to live with the indignity of being known for the world’s largest case of kleptocracy.

“With all our hearts we appeal to Your Majesty to consider our request to deny any appeal for a pardon by Najib, who has brought shame to this country.

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Glory hound: netizens knock Muhyiddin for taking credit for Najib’s jailing

KUALA LUMPUR – Former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin once again faces public criticism and repeated reminders of his “betrayals” after taking credit for the Federal Court’s decision yesterday to uphold Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s conviction.

PKR’s Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad labelled the Pagoh MP as someone who tends to take credit for someone else’s work.

He quipped that if the situation was set in school, Muhyiddin would be the type to take credit for other people’s projects.

“He might have contributed at first, but then went on to ruin that project.

“However, if they get an ‘A’ for that, surely he will come back to claim it as his,” he tweeted.

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Najib’s jailing will strike fear into all corrupt leaders: PKR’s Wong Chen

KUALA LUMPUR – Other politicians who were embroiled in corrupt practices will now fear their own fate after seeing a former prime minister jailed for his crime, said a PKR lawmaker.

Subang MP Wong Chen said with more individuals allegedly involved in the multibillion-ringgit 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal alongside Datuk Seri Najib Razak, yesterday’s Federal Court decision would serve as a boost to prosecutors to continue fighting for justice.

“I believe the historic ruling yesterday has struck deep fears into the hearts of all corrupt politicians and officials in Malaysia. If a former prime minister can be jailed, any corrupt minister, MP or high official can be jailed too,” he said in a series of tweets today.

“So, is this part of the 1MDB scandal? The SRC International Sdn Bhd case of RM42 million is so minute in quantum, compared to the RM40 billion scale of the scandal.

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