‘Obsessed’? We just want to know why the rush for Najib

Was it time for his application to be considered when he had only been in prison for a short time?

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By Kee Thuan Chye

Anwar Ibrahim claims he was only doing his job as Prime Minister in honouring “the right of every single convict in the federal territories to submit a request (for a pardon)”.

My question is, former Prime Minister Najib Razak of course had a right to apply for a pardon but was it time for his application to be considered when he had only served a short time? Did Anwar not show him favour by fast-tracking his application?

In giving Najib the chance to be heard by the Pardons Board, wasn’t Anwar taking that place away from some other deserving prison inmate who had already served a long time?

Anwar questions why people are “obsessed” with Najib’s case when there are other serious corruption cases.

Well, what Najib did as a PM was heinous. So, of course people would want to see that he gets what he deserves. I do!

Other corruption cases don’t enter into the discussion. They are not relevant to his case.

Anwar is being disingenuous in saying what he said. It is not a matter of damned if he did, damned if he didn’t.

If he didn’t, why should he be damned for following the rule of letting Najib wait as he should have? After all, that would only be fair.

It is because he did that Anwar is damned for. He did what should not have been done.

And what he did, allowed Najib to get a 50% discount on his sentence – undeservedly.

Kee Thuan Chye is a prominent Malaysian playwright, poet, journalist and political commentator known for his outspoken views on social justice and democracy.

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.
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Tristan W.
Tristan W.
18 May 2025 10.31pm

Smear is playing with fire. He thought helping Najib would strengthen his grip of power but he forgot this would drive away Chinese voters who supported PR/PH all these years! Voters would not vote in the coming election if Anwar would stoop so low to help a criminal who show no remorse!

pat adam
pat adam
18 May 2025 8.57pm

till today Malaysians have not got a single penny for any of the corrupt cases. Maju lah corruption.

James
James
18 May 2025 3.20am

AI s priority is to be PM at any cost. That was his life long ambition. To maintain being PM he has sold off the Rule of Law – there are possibly convicts in his cabinet (he controls the AGs chambers and that is [allegedly] why there is DNAA). [A tainted] UMNO … is welcomed into his coalition solely to support him. That is why Mr Cash is King has been [allegedly] given VIP convict status. It is a shame that this man who begged, preached and supported – anti corruption, the rule of law, transparency, zero tolerance for nepotism in speeches all over the world has now embraced illegality in his governance. I doubt he will win the next elections.