Malaysia’s United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) urged an immediate move to home confinement for former Prime Minister Najib Razak, adding pressure as authorities review the order’s legal effect.
UMNO Secretary-General Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said Nov. 7 the party welcomed the decree, which he said reflected the King’s view that Najib had met the pardon conditions. The order included a RM50 million fine. Dusuki said UMNO saw arguments against the order as potential defiance of the royal decree and called for stern legal action against those who defy the order.
The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) paused Najib’s transfer for legal review. It is reviewing whether payment met only the fine condition while Najib’s prison sentence in the SRC International case continued, or meant the sentence was complete.
Ahmad Maslan, Pontian UMNO chief and a party supreme council member, said in a Nov. 7 Facebook post that he and other party officials had filed a police report over the delay. The Star/Asia News Network reported that Pasir Gudang Umno Youth was expected to file a similar report against the attorney-general.
