Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will have time to fix any “backlash” for welcoming former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s apology regarding the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.
Political analyst Associate Professor Dr Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Farouk believes Anwar’s act of welcoming the apology is unprecedented. However, he said that it had no legal bearing and the act will likely be forgotten by the time the next general election swings around, in three years.
“Anwar’s decision to accept the apology is unprecedented and caught many by surprise. Some are angry as Anwar previously said there would be no forgiveness for those who stole billions of ringgit,” said Azeem, director for the Centre for Policy Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
“There might be a little backlash over the incident, but in the long term, there is nothing for Anwar to worry about.
Azeem also said Anwar will not lose the people’s support by accepting Najib’s apology.
“The next general election is three years away. I believe he (Anwar) will last the full term, and he has time to make the people happy by fixing the economy, which seems to be on the right track.”
Anwar, on Oct 27, in his speech at the Perak PKR convention in Ipoh, said as “the father of the nation”, he welcomed Najib’s apology.
“When someone offers their apology, what do you want me to do?” he said during his speech.
On Oct 24, Najib’s son, Datuk Mohd Nizar, read out a statement at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex, in which Najib said he decided to issue the apology after much reflection, having spent 26 months in jail.
Najib was found guilty of misappropriating RM42 million from SRC International and was sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined RM210 million. However, he received a partial pardon, and had his sentence halved to six years, and his fine reduced to RM50 million.
Najib’s legal troubles are not yet over. He will find out on Oct 30 if he has to enter a defence in the ongoing 1MDB case, where he is facing four charges of abusing his position to obtain RM2.3 billion from 1MDB. He is also looking at 21 money laundering charges involving the same amount.
Transport Minister and Seremban MP Anthony Loke told reporters today that Najib’s apology was “irrelevant” and that “a crime is a crime”.
Loke’s comments come after his fellow DAP colleague, Jelutong MP R.S.N. Rayer – while praising Anwar for accepting Najib’s apology – warned that it could trigger a backlash from the public.
On Saturday, Rayer asked whether Najib’s apology could reverse the effects of the scandal, including the debt incurred by the government-owned 1MDB.
Azeem stressed that at the end of the day, Najib’s apology has no legal bearing on the outcome, but he did question its timing.
“No one can absolve Najib based on his apology. He still has to go through the legal process. It is up to the court to decide what happens next (in the 1MDB case).
Azeem, however, warned that the people want justice for the “biggest heist in history”.
“I believe the people will only be satisfied if Najib stands trial. He should have his day in court to prove his innocence,” he said.
