KUALA LUMPUR: An Umno division chief has urged party members to place their trust in president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in efforts to seek justice for former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Selayang division chief Datuk Hasnal Rezua Merican Habib Merican said he had personally met Najib in prison, where the former president conveyed that Zahid and the Umno leadership were working tirelessly to secure justice for him.
“We must have faith in the president. Some have accused me of trying to curry favour with Zahid; that is not true.
“I am among those who have met Najib in prison. We shook hands and exchanged pleasantries for about two minutes before he told me: ‘I know Zahid, Datuk Megat Zulkarnain Omardin (Umno Selangor liaison chairman) and the Umno leadership are working very hard to obtain justice for me.’
“That is what Najib said to me,” he said during his debate at the Umno General Assembly today.
He also criticised those who accused Zahid of abandoning Najib after assuming the post of deputy prime minister.
“Bossku himself has said that Zahid is helping. In a letter Bossku wrote to division chiefs, he said: ‘My fellow division chiefs, work with Datuk Seri Zahid to obtain justice.’
“So we should place our trust in Zahid. Yet when a pardon was not obtained, everyone blamed him. If Bossku has placed his trust in Zahid, then we too should place our trust in him,” he said.
He added that Zahid had even signed an affidavit confirming that he had seen the addendum related to Najib’s pardon, a move he described as a significant risk, given Zahid’s position as deputy prime minister.
Hasnal Rezua added that the pursuit of justice for Najib has become part of Umno’s broader struggle.
“As for matters before the courts, we respect and allow the legal process to take its course. What I wish to emphasise is our effort to seek justice for Najib, including appealing for compassion and mercy from His Majesty the King of Malaysia for the former president,” he said.
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