People hate corruption: Najib does not deserve mercy or home detention

Prisoner Najib Razak

Follow us on our Malay and English WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, Tiktok and Youtube channels.

29 January marked the first anniversary of Najib Razak’s grand discount day.

One year ago, Najib had his sentences in the SRC international case commuted from 12 years to six years (50% discount) and from RM210m to RM50m (76% discount).

We, the undersigned Malaysian civil society groups and Malaysian citizens, categorically declare that:

We hate corruption.

Najib does not deserve any mercy – pardon or home detention – because

  • he had been convicted of corruption (seven charges) and continues to be charged for abuse of power (four charges), criminal breach of trust (six charges) and money laundering (24 charges) involving a total of RM9.0bn, comprising:
  • he has never admitted guilt in any of these cases. Instead, he has repeatedly claimed he is a victim of political persecution; and
  • he demands pardon and leniency in the punishment lawfully meted out to him in the SRC International case while the three other cases are pending

Before all of Najib’s pending cases are concluded and, upon conviction, he admits guilt and seeks forgiveness, any decision to pardon him or substitute his prison time with home detention amounts to condoning and normalising corruption. It amounts to promoting or tolerating a dua-darjat (two-class) society in which those who steal more get lower punishments. Such decisions are an affront to the rule of law. Such decisions signal to investors and the international community that Malaysia remains a haven for 1MDB-style kleptocracy.

READ MORE:  Najib's empty 'apology' an insult, Anwar’s reaction troubling

Parliament and legislatures are the only law-making bodies in Malaysia. Any law on home detention must be transparently made in Parliament and not by any other avenue or document. The law on home detention must explicitly exclude, among others:

  • those convicted of corruption, abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering
  • those who do not admit guilt and instead claim to be victims of political persecution or judicial error and
  • those who have related cases

Attorney General Dusuki Mokhtar must order the prosecution to re-file in a timely manner new charges against Najib in the RM6.6bn Ipic case.

Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim must assist the prosecution in obtaining access to the necessary documents.

Najib was given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on 27 November 2024 because the prosecution had failed to produce documents under S51A of the Criminal Procedure Code.

According to the prosecution, the documents are an ‘official secret’ under the Ministry of Finance.

If Najib escapes any accountability due to the failure on the part of the prosecution, Prime Minister Anwar, who constitutionally controls the appointment and tenure of the attorney general and can declassify any documents classified as an official secret under the Ministry of Finance, must bear full political responsibility.

Initiated by:

  • Project Stability and Accountability for Malaysia (Projek Sama)
  • Coalition for Clean and Fair Election (Bersih)
  • Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas Malaysia)
  • Himpunan Advokasi Rakyat Malaysia (Haram)
  • Fahmi Reza

Note: As of 29 January 2025, 2pm, a total of 50 organisations – art, literature and culture (3); community-based groups (5); democracy, human rights and good governance (19), environment and/or indigenous peoples (5); political party (1); professional and business groups (5) and student/youth organisations (12) – had endorsed the statement “Malaysians hate corruption: Najib does not deserve mercy including home detention”.

READ MORE:  No special treatment: Group rejects house arrest option for Najib

Art, literature and culture (3)

  • Kolektif Stensil
  • Persatuan Penulis Berbilang Bahasa (PEN Malasia)
  • The Instant Cafe Theatre Company Community organisations (5)

Community-based groups (5)

  • Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM)
  • Pangrok Sulap
  • Pertubuhan Mawaddah Malaysia
  • Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Hokkien Association Youth Section (SKLHA Youth)
  • Suara Marhaen

Democracy,  human  rights  and good governance (19)

  • #RasuahBusters
  • Aliran
  • Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
  • Citizens Against Enforced Disappearances (Caged)
  • Engage
  • Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF)
  • Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Civil Rights Committee (KLSCAH-CRC)
  • Liga Mahasiswa Universiti Malaya
  • Malaysian Corruption Watch
  • OHMSI Sdn Bhd
  • Persatuan Kebangsaan Hak Asasi Manusia (Hakam)
  • Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (Empower)
  • Persatuan Pemangkin Daya Masyarakat (Rose)
  • Purplelily Social Association
  • Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)
  • Sisters in Islam (SIS)
  • Teoh Beng   Hock   Association    for Democratic Advancement
  • Tindak Malaysia

Environment and/or indigenous peoples (5)

  • Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC)
  • KLSel Eko Enzim Station
  • Persatuan Aktivis Sahabat Alam (Kuasa)
  • Pertubuhan Solidariti Hijau Kuantan
  • Save Rivers

Political party (1)

  • Parti Pejuang Tanahair

Professional and business groups (5)

  • Industrial and Organizational Psychology Club
  • Iryas incorporation
  • Johor Indian Business Association (Jiba)
  • Muslim Professionals Forum
  • Pergerakan Tenaga Akademik Malaysia (Gerak)

Student/youth organisations (12)

  • Angkatan Kesatuan Siswa Sosialis (Aksi)
  • Demokrat Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
  • Grassroots Empowerment IIUM
  • Jentayu (formerly Malaysia Muda)
  • Kelab Sosialis UKM (KSUKM)
  • Kesatuan Mahasiswa Universiti Malaya (KMUM)
  • Mahasiswa Keadilan Malaysia (MKM)
  • Pro-Siswa Kolej Komuniti Malaysia (Pro-siswa KK)
  • Pusat Pembangunan Rakyat Mandiri (Mandiri)
  • Suara Mahasiswa UMS
  • Suara Siswa UiTM
  • University of Malaya Association of New Youth (UMANY)

Note: As of 29 January 2025 2pm, a total of 826 individuals – legal practitioners and scholars (25), other Academics (37), journalists (10), other professionals (146), activists (36), business people (55), politicians (5) and legal practitioners and scholars (25), concerned citizens (521) – have endorsed the statement.

READ MORE:  'Permintaan maaf' kosong Najib satu penghinaan, reaksi Anwar merisaukan

This excludes some 1,000 endorsers whose information is incomplete.

The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
  1. Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
  2. Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
  3. Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
  4. Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
  5. Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
Support Aliran's work with an online donation. Scan this QR code using your mobile phone e-wallet or banking app:
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments