Why is Umno discrediting itself by seeking a pardon for Najib Razak when there are still cases pending against him?
What is the party communicating to the people of Malaysia at large?
This convict was sentenced to 12 years’ jail and a fine of RM210m on one count of abuse of power. Failure to pay this amount will result in an additional five years’ jail.
In all, Najib has been sentenced to a total of 72 years’ jail – 10 years for each of the three counts of criminal breach of trust and each of the three counts of money laundering, and 12 years’ jail for abuse of position. But the jail terms are to run concurrently.
Here we are considering the conduct of a former prime minister who abused his position, squandered billions of ringgit and was found guilty by due process of law.
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Does Umno really want a pardon for a leader who abused his power to enrich himself and bring shame to the nation? Just because he was a former PM and Umno president does not give him any special rights as everyone is equal before the law – unless Umno leaders believes their members enjoy special rights.
That Umno’s appeal for a pardon for Najib was unanimously agreed to by all the party’s divisions and wings suggests that the party does not value character and conduct.
Right is right and wrong is wrong. The courts have ruled against Najib.
Is this all about money and power and how the system can be challenged when the guilty party is endowed with both?
Values and personal moral standards are out of the window. It is about image and personality. What has come over Umno and the Barisan Nasional coalition it is part of? There seems to be no corrective factor.
The political turf is changing, and this is the time for Umno to transform itself.
Sadly, the party lacks leadership endowed with vision, character and competency to make a difference. It is the same old style and the same rhetoric of race, religion and royalty – all of which has little to do with the struggles that low-income households face.
There is no way Umno, as it stands now, and BN, as its lackey, will endear themselves to the 30% who voted for the opposition Perikatan Nasional coalition. If Umno and BN have no plans to innovate, to reach out and to engage through multi-racial politics, then they will remain where they are and slowly move into oblivion as others take the grid.
We have read and heard enough about Zahid’s ventures with Akalbudi and the earlier issues with the Immigration Department.
In the case of Akalbudi Foundation, Zahid was charged with eight counts of abuse of power, ten counts of criminal breach of trust and 27 of money laundering. These are specific charges with many witnesses called. They have all been well reported in the media, much to the astonishment of many.
The same is true for the case against Zahid relating to the foreign visa system. It was already a common rumour that certain parties were benefiting from this venture.
Zahid already has had 40 other graft charges against him dismissed.
The culture of corruption was pervasive under the BN government. Daily, we hear news of fresh initiatives by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. But is the MACC also handicapped by incompetent personnel?
When a nation makes mediocrity the basis of its competence, then it can expect only dismal results.
Amid a culture of systemic corruption, as indicated by the PM, big challenges await those who grapple with this issue. There are vested interests – people with money and the power that comes with it, those who would lose their incomes, and dark forces – all of whom have no national interests to serve but their own personal ego and power.
Politicians worth their salt would see an opportunity here for reforming Umno and BN. This is where their focus should be.
But where are the leaders within Umno and BN with this capacity and capability? The nation is plagued with social problems, unemployment and underemployment, a poor quality of education, rising prices and a host of other challenges that need to be tackled.
But Umno and BN are way off the mark, self-obsessed with no creative ideas. They want to persist with an agenda that has failed and brought them to where they are today.
With intra-party conflicts and threats from other race-based and religious-based parties, Umno has to reinvent itself to today’s realities. Otherwise, the party will continue to spend its energies on outdated ideas that will not appeal to a changing generation and a changing environment.
The stark contrast between the Pakatan Harapan coalition and Umno is obvious. The demise of Gerakan is a sign not to be taken lightly – from being in power to where it is now just a lackey of the opposition.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
If UMNO members persist in trying to save Najib from prison, it only shows that UMNO is all about corruption, immoral conduct, self-serving party to enrich its members. What will the country end up with? Give up your citizenship and migrate to a cleaner country!
It’s simple… Righteousness should be, if not anything you do is satanic or parties of satanic rule .
Well said!
Well said. Bn has no morals or character if it upholds a pardon for Najib. One has to pay for one’s mistakes. That is justice. No one js above d law.
Nobody is above law and justice