Umno tainting unity govt with push for Najib’s release, says analyst

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PETALING JAYA: Umno’s relentless push to secure former prime minister Najib Razak’s release from prison could taint the unity government’s image and jeopardise its prospects in the next election (GE16), says a political analyst.

Azmil Tayeb of Universiti Sains Malaysia said the party’s strategy is likely to harm the unity government, particularly if it aims to stay in power after GE16.

Voters, especially supporters of Pakatan Harapan, would be deterred by Umno’s “single-minded effort to free Najib”, he said.

Azmil said this is particularly because the Anwar Ibrahim-led coalition had campaigned hard to eradicate corruption in the run-up to the 2018 polls that ended Barisan Nasional’s 61-year stranglehold on power.

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