Najib Has Not Admitted Or Atoned To Seek Redemption

---

 



Around this time last year, an innocuous WhatsApp message from the Malaysian Corruption Watch (MCW) was sent to me on a dinner planned for Feb 24 to raise funds.
Among others, it said: “Pengurusan MCW bersetuju untuk menganugerahkan bintang ini kepada penyumbang lebih dari RM1,000. Penyumbang RM10,000 dan keatas akan menerima sebuah plaque khas dan akan duduk di seat VIP.”
(The MCW management has agreed to bestow medals on contributors who give above RM1,000; those who donate more than RM10,000 will be given a plaque and VIP seating.)
I responded for an article story, but the organisers said they would get back to me. They never did. I let it slip by, hoping to raise the issue appropriately because an anti-corruption NGO traded integrity like a commodity with fluctuating prices.
The MCW was in the news five days after the pardon accorded to former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.
On Feb 2 last year, the Pardons Board reduced Najib’s jail term from 12 to six years and his RM210 million fine to just RM50 million in the SRC International case. If the fine is not paid, the board said that one year will be added to Najib’s sentence, and he will be released on Aug 23, 2029.
Change in tune
At that time, the news on the so-called addendum had not surfaced.
Responding to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s call for an immediate stop to all condemnation and criticism regarding the Pardons Board’s decision, MCW president Jais Abdul Karim expressed concerns that it could raise issues related to freedom of speech and transparency in governance.
He said: “Constructive criticism is vital in holding institutions accountable and ensuring fair and just decision-making processes, especially in a democratic society.”
“Limiting criticism could undermine public trust and hinder the ability to address potential flaws or injustices in the pardon system.”
He added that pardons are typically granted based on various considerations, including legal principles, humanitarian grounds, and national interests.
Jais Abdul KarimBut two days ago, MCW and Jais were in the news again, with a different tone - MCW believed the former prime minister deserved the opportunity to redeem himself.
The MCW urged all parties to respect due process regarding the commutation of the former PM’s sentence. It said Najib should be given a chance at redemption and rehabilitation like everyone else.
“While we strongly uphold the fight against corruption, we must also honour and respect the decisions made by the monarchy, as enshrined in our Constitution,” Jais said in a statement.
He added that Najib’s contributions as a former premier also cannot be discounted.
‘No mercy for Najib’
As this came immediately after the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center) condemned the possibility of Najib serving out the remainder of his sentence at home, it was seen as an affronted voice of reason.
Calling it “unwarranted leniency”, C4 Center criticised the Anwar-led government for what seemed to be a lack of commitment to reforms and a worrying sympathy for those involved in corruption cases.
Protesters holding up caricatures of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak (left) and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during an anti-corruption protest on Jan 25Jais and MCW should ask themselves: “What redemption? What contributions? Who’s everyone else?”
Redemption is atoning for guilt, a fault, or a mistake. Najib has yet to admit wrongdoing or express remorse despite the Federal Court affirming the guilty verdicts passed by the courts below in the SRC International case.
A pregnant mother who steals milk from the supermarket is sent to prison, and she is one of the thousands of “everyone”.
Billions of ringgit siphoned from the country’s coffers have yet to be recovered, and many of the perpetrators continue to enjoy the fruits of their crimes.
Contrasting MCW’s stand, four reform-based NGOs said Malaysians who hate corruption have one message - the man does not deserve mercy.
The four are Project Stability and Accountability for Malaysia (Projek Sama), Bersih, Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas Malaysia), and Himpunan Advokasi Rakyat Malaysia (Haram).
The four NGOs pointed out that Najib still has other ongoing trials, including criminal breach of trust and abuse of power linked to the 1MDB scandal.
“Najib has never admitted guilt in any of these cases. Instead, he has repeatedly claimed he was a victim of political persecution, and he demanded pardon and leniency in the punishment lawfully meted out to him in the SRC International case while the three other cases are pending.
“Before all of Najib’s pending cases are concluded and, upon conviction, he admits guilt and seeks forgiveness, any decision to pardon him or substitute his prison time with home detention amounts to condoning and normalising corruption,” they argued.
Time to stock up on peanuts
This healthy debate, allowing public discussion, may not continue for long - just a few more weeks.
The Attorney-General’s Chambers has applied for a gag order not just for court documents related to Najib’s judicial review application but for the entire proceedings.
If the court allows the gag order, it will prevent not only the media from reporting the case but also any member of the judiciary and lawyers directly dealing with the civil action from sharing with the public copies of confidential documents linked to the case.
It’s a little too late, as copies of the so-called addendum and the minutes of the Pardons Board meeting are already circulating on social media.
But there may be new developments. To quote former Sabah Mineral Management chief executive officer Jontih Enggihon, who is being sued, we, the people, must stock up on peanuts and enjoy them even after the handy work of the censors. - Mkini
R NADESWARAN is a veteran journalist who writes on bread-and-butter issues. Comments: [email protected].
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

---