Najib was able to attend Dewan Rakyat but could not be present at court, and at times he said he was sick, says Dr M
by ASILA JALIL / pic by MUHD AMIN NAHARUL
TUN Dr Mahathir Mohamad (picture) took a jibe at former Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak and said the latter might be able to contest in the 15th General Election (GE15) as he is still allowed to travel abroad despite facing court cases.
Dr Mahathir said Najib has been charged for money laundering but the sentence has not been carried out because the latter appealed his conviction.
“The appeal date was in April 2021. He was free the whole time as if he did not commit any wrong-doing. His cases were not heard due to various excuses given.
“He was able to attend Dewan Rakyat but could not be present at court, and at times he said he was sick,” said the ex-premier in his blog posted yesterday.
Najib is currently awaiting the Court of Appeal’s decision on his conviction which includes a 12-year jail sentence, RM210 million fine on seven charges of criminal breach of trust, money laundering as well as abuse of power which involved RM42 million in fund from SRC International Sdn Bhd.
Dr Mahathir said the Court of Appeal has yet to make its decision on Najib’s appeal and yet the latter is allowed to go to Singapore to visit his daughter.
He highlighted that Najib also changed the dates for his trip, claiming he was needed to help Umno election machinery in Malacca for the state election on Nov 20.
“When will Najib receive the decision from the Court of Appeal? If found guilty, he will then appeal to the Federal Court.
“This will take some time and by then GE15 will take place. If Najib has not been found guilty by the Federal Court then, he would definitely be able to contest in GE15.
“Once again the world is ‘impressed’ with Malaysia. It is an example of a liberal democratic nation where those who have won will eventually lose and losers will become winners. And those who steal a small amount would be jailed while those who took a lot are free,” added Dr Mahathir.
On Tuesday, three High Court judges granted Najib’s application to amend the dates for temporary release and return of his passport for him to visit his daughter who is expected to give birth in Singapore early next month.
Judges Mohamed Zaini Mazlan, Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah and Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin granted the application as there was no objection from the prosecution.
Najib filed the application on Oct 21 and had asked for dates of temporary release and return of his impounded passport to be amended from Oct 20 and Nov 22 to Oct 25 and Dec 6 respectively.