SRC verdict justice for M'sians, say those who exposed 1MDB scandal
Pakatan Harapan politicians and journalists who brought the 1MDB financial scandal to light have deemed today's High Court’s decision on the RM42 million SRC International case as a vindication and justice for all Malaysians.
In a series of tweets, Damansara MP Tony Pua said it was “justice for Malaysians” that former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak was found guilty on all seven charges...
Pakatan Harapan politicians and journalists who brought the 1MDB financial scandal to light have deemed today's decision on the RM42 million SRC International case as a vindication and justice for all Malaysians.
Top Umno leaders, meanwhile, have accepted the Kuala Lumpur High Court decision, pointing out that former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak could still appeal the verdict.
In a series of tweets, Damansara MP Tony Pua said it was “justice for Malaysians” that Najib was found guilty on all seven charges.
The DAP politician also deemed it a “vindication” that Najib was convicted for abuse of power.
PKR vice-president and former Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli similarly congratulated Malaysians for the decision, saying exposing the 1MDB scandal had been “worth it”.
The Wall Street Journal journalist Tom Wright, who co-authored the book Billion Dollar Whale on the 1MDB scandal, simply called the decision “justice”.
Sarawak Report’s Clare Rewcastle Brown told Free Malaysia Today that judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali’s verdict was “devastating” for Najib.
“At least the court has remained independent.
“I especially liked that the judge made the point that surely Najib would have sent the king of Saudi Arabia a thank-you note if he thought that was where the money came from,” she was quoted as saying about the judge’s comments when delivering his ruling this morning.
Former MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya also called the decision “justice” and thanked her former colleagues at the anti-graft agency.
PKR’s Bayan Lepas MP Sim Tze Tzin chimed in, tweeting how Najib had made history as the first former prime minister to be deemed a “convict”.
Former PetroSaudi International employee Xavier Justo, the whistleblower who leaked information about the 1MDB scandal to the media and prompted global investigations, described today as a “day of celebration” on his Facebook page.
The Swiss national was previously jailed in Thailand for allegedly blackmailing his former employer over the data.
Umno: Najib can appeal
Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who was at court with Najib this morning, took to Facebook to call for calm.
“I accept the court’s decision. I urge party leaders at all levels, members and supporters to remain calm.
“I believe Najib still has a chance at justice through the judicial system. I am sad with this decision and I believe Najib is someone who is intelligent and strong,” he said.
Umno supreme council member Khaled Nordin similarly wished Najib well during this time.
“I hope he will continue to work hard to clear his name during the appeals process,” he wrote on Instagram.
Lokman: Withdraw support from Muhyiddin
Meanwhile, Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki also said he respected the court's decision.
“Unlike PKR and Harapan, we respect the judiciary and the decision of the High Court judge. There is still room to appeal to the Court of Appeal (which will involve three judges) and the Federal Court (five or seven judges),” he tweeted.
Umno Youth Information Chief Shahril Hamdan, however, urged for the party to take heed of today’s decision for “party survival”.
“Umno now has to choose what it wants to do. Play to the internal gallery or accept this monumental judgement as a turning point, right of appeal notwithstanding,” he tweeted, noting that Najib had indeed been "proven guilty".
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin similarly hoped Umno would view the conviction as a chance to “rejuvenate” itself and “transition” to new leaders.
“Although everyone has the right to offer moral support to Najib, I hope Umno won’t be dragged into this case. I’m sure Umno members will continue to be loyal to the party, more than their loyalty to any individual in the party.
“It is time to rebuild the sacred Umno and look at transitioning to a generation of leadership that will bring the party into a new era,” he said on his website.
Speaking to journalists outside the Kuala Lumpur High Court, ardent Najib supporter and former Umno supreme council member Lokman Adam appeared to blame Harapan for “selective persecution”.
He also appeared to blame Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and urged BN MPs to withdraw support from Muhyiddin’s Perikatan Nasional government which comprises Bersatu, BN, PAS, GPS, PBS and Star.
“If there was no interference in the court today, it could have made a fair decision,” Lokman alleged. “I urge BN MPs to pull their support from Muhyiddin’s government.
“Umno members who have been found to support Muhyiddin should be booted out from the upcoming Umno AGM. I am sure Muhyiddin will not win easily in Pagoh,” he added.
Additional reporting by Ramieza Wahid
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