“TABUNG Solidariti Najib Razak” has raised over RM634,000 within its first three hours, according to Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.
The fundraising initiative was officially launched by Umno to help former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak settle a RM50 million fine.
This fine is part of a conditional pardon that commutes his remaining jail term to house arrest until August 23, 2028, subject to full payment and compliance with the specified rules.
Najib Razak is a convicted criminal whose guilt has been consistently upheld by multiple judges across the legal system. In a landmark ruling by the Court of Appeal regarding the SRC International case, the presiding judge explicitly rejected the defence’s claim of public service, declaring that his actions constituted a “national embarrassment” rather than a matter of national interest.
To our collective chagrin, Najib enjoys an unprecedented level of privilege. Unlike typical convicts, he was never publicly paraded in standard MACC or prison attire. He is especially fortunate to have the backing of UMNO, where loyalists and party leaders blindly assert his innocence in defiance of solid court judgments. Now, his staunch supporters are actively organising a public fundraiser to secure the RM50 million required to transition him from a prison cell to house arrest .
This occurred despite the fact that during his SRC trial, the courts fully accepted his role as a public servant and agent (serving as Prime Minister and Finance Minister) in approving RM4 billion in KWAP loans to SRC International. Furthermore, the courts established his involvement in misappropriating sums of RM27 million, RM5 million, and RM10 million, as well as receiving illegal proceeds under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAAA).
One can’t help but feel for the Umno rank-and-file. It is difficult not to empathise with the Umno grassroots, whose unwavering support often stems from being uninformed. This makes them easy targets for political deception.
Unfortunately, a lack of awareness prevents them from recognising how they are being manipulated, making them highly susceptible to leadership exploitation—a phenomenon clearly illustrated by this case. Yes, this case is a textbook example of that dynamic.
Critics have sharply condemned the perceived flaws in our legal system, particularly following the decision to place a high-profile figure like Najib Razak under house arrest. The 1MDB scandal severely besmirched our nation’s global reputation and brought the country to the brink of financial ruin.
This latest ruling raises serious concerns about whether sufficient consideration was given to the dedicated officials who worked tirelessly to ensure accountability and legal consequences.
Granting house arrest is perceived by critics as a direct insult to the dedicated investigators and prosecutors who fought steadfastly to bring him to justice. More concerning, however, is whether this perceived compromise of the rule of law will erode investor confidence and negatively impact Malaysia’s foreign direct investment.
After all global firms and credit rating agencies monitor indicators like the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index to assess country risk. High-profile deviations from standard judicial outcomes can trigger concerns over political interference.
Although I have always maintained a profound respect for the law, this outcome—where an individual convicted of stealing billions in public funds avoids meaningful accountability—has deeply shaken my confidence in the legal profession. It makes it incredibly difficult to believe that our courts exist to guarantee fairness and equal justice. – September 19, 2026
Mohamed Hanipa Maidin is a former deputy minister of law.