Rally to protest new criminal charges against Najib on Wed

PETALING JAYA: A solidarity rally in support of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has been organised for Wednesday (Aug 8) morning, said Umno supreme council member Datuk Lokman Adam (pic). 

He said the rally would take place at 8am at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex to protest the three new charges being brought against the former prime minister by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on Wednesday.

“The Pakatan Harapan government has clearly failed to collect evidence to support their lie that Najib stole RM2.6bil of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) money," said Lokman, who was recently defeated at the Sungai Kandis by-election. 

"They think that adding charges on Najib linked to the Umno money and gifts of jewellery and other items seized will sustain the negative perception the rakyat has of him,” said Lokman in a statement on Tuesday (Aug 7).

The MACC confirmed that that Najib will be charged again on Wednesday.

The anti-graft agency said in a statement on Tuesday that the former prime minister had returned to assist their investigations into SRC International Sdn Bhd.

“He will be charged under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (Amla) 2001,” said the MACC.

On July 4, Najib was charged with misusing his position as a government official to receive a RM42mil bribe to provide a government guarantee for a RM4bil loan to SRC International Sdn Bhd.

Lokman had also led a gathering to support Najib outside the MACC headquarters on July 3.

The RM42mil allegedly went from SRC International into Najib's personal bank accounts.

He also faces three other charges of criminal breach of trust (CBT) in his capacity as Prime Minister, Finance Minister and Advisor Emeritus of SRC International, in which he was entrusted with the RM4bil.

SRC International was a subsidiary of 1MDB.