Written by Stan Lee, PoliticsNow Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR (politicsnowmy.blogspot.com) - It looks like Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's government is pulling out all the stops to 'thank' disgraced and jailed ex-premier Najib Razak for the political support that has helped Anwar to become prime minister and his Pakatan Harapan coalition to form the country's current unit government.
According to Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution, a House Arrest Bill is being drafted by the AGC and the prisons department and due to be tabled in Parliament next year.
"Once the bill is drafted, we will present it to the Cabinet. After which, we expect to table it in Parliament next year,” Saifuddin, an Anwar stalwart, told the media today (Oct 19) without giving further details.
THE SPOILS OF GE16?
However, according to political watchers, once out as law, the bill is bound to benefit Najib as well as his wife Rosmah Mansor.
"You could see it as giving Najib his share of the political rewards. Zahid already got his share of the GE16 spoils so to speak with his discharge from serious corruption charges. So for Najib and Rosmah, it is a new law that can pave the way for them to serve out their sentences under house arrest," a veteran political observer told PoliticsNow Malaysia.
He was referring to Zahid Hamidi, the Deputy Prime Minister and current Umno president, who in the wake of the 16th general election in 2022 went against the wishes of his party to back Anwar's Pakatan Harapan coalition to form a unity government.
Most Umno members and division leaders had wanted to align with ex-premier Muhyiddin Yassin's PN alliance which includes the influential Muslim-based Pas party - but Zahid not only rammed through the deal with Anwar, he also purged and sacked his foes within Umno.
The ruthless moves would have been beyond Zahid's political strength without the help of the Najib faction in Umno, which includes the ex-PM's children who now hold significant positions in the party.
SAGA OF NAJIB & ROSMAH COMING TO AN END - BUT HOW ABOUT THE FINES?
Najib was sent to 12 years jail and fined RM210 mil in 2022 over corruption in a case linked to the infamous multi-billion dollar 1MDB scandal. However in 2024, the Malaysian King halved his sentence to 6 years and reduced the fine to just RM50 mil. It was later revealed that the King had also issued an “addendum order” allowing him to finish his sentence under house arrest.
Najib, the prime minister who oversaw Malaysia's quickest and most extensive period of economic expansion despite his administration also indulging in the greatest spree of corruption and kleptocracy in local history, is set to be released on August 23, 2028.
His wife Rosmah, notorious worldwide for her grand ultra-shopping sprees and endless collections of priceless diamonds, jewellery and ultra-luxury Birkin handbags, was also found guilty of the three corruption charges involving a RM1.25 billion project to supply solar hybrid energy to rural schools in Sarawak state.
The former First Lady of Malaysia was sentenced to a total of 30 years jail and fined RM970 mil in default 10 years jail. The sentences which are 10 years jail for each of the corruption charge are to run concurrently. She is still appealing the charges.
POWER CORRUPTS EVEN THOSE WHO CALL THEMSELVES REFORMISTS?
Of the three, perhaps Zahid was the luckiest. He was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) by the High Court from all 47 charges of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering after the government's prosecution team "decided to halt the case as they wanted to investigate the case more in depth".
The controversial release was heavily slammed by the citizenry and rocked the Anwar administration. Anwar himself denied any connection between the DNAA and his GE16 deal with Zahid but the loss in credibility has been serious and lasting.
With the latest House Arrest Bill, it would be difficult not only for the self-styled reformist Anwar but also for his Pakatan coalition which includes DAP to again expect the benefit of doubt from the public.
"I don't think Anwar or DAP cares about credibility anymore. As they say, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely," said the pundit.
"Of course, it may be jumping the gun since the details of the House Arrest Bill are not out yet but put it this way - we weren't born yesterday! I think age will be used as the main reasons for the Prisons Board to decide favorably on Najib and Rosmah once the Bill becomes law. He will be 72 and she 73."
With Zahid also turning 72 and Anwar 78 next year, it is difficult to envisage a still-ailing Malaysia, badly in need of a dynamic and urgent change in trajectory, to be able to escape the grip of elderly politicians with mindsets that hark to a fading but still not gone era, where might is right and politics is a game to find personal wealth where only the most cunning thrive.
Written by Stan Lee, PoliticsNow Malaysia
https://politicsnowmy.blogspot.com/
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